| The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness |
| Coverage characteristics | 5.1.1 Statistical presentation The following basic information is provided: reference period, trade flow, product, trading partner, trade value. Data are disseminated in EURO on imports (CIF) and exports (FOB). |
| Periodicity | 4.1.1 Periodicity Monthly |
| Timeliness | 4.1.2 Timeliness Statistics Austria disseminates external trade data not later than 10 weeks after the end of the reference period. This is due to the availability of detailed Intrastat data.
Notes: Austria is availing itself of a flexibility option on the timeliness of the Merchandise trade data.
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| Access by the Public |
Advance dissemination of
release calendar | 5.1.3 Advance release calendar Precise release dates are disseminated by a comprehensive release calendar on the website of STATISTIK AUSTRIA (http://www.statistik.at). |
Simultaneous release to all
interested parties | 5.1.4 Simultaneous release Data are made available to all users simultaneously in the press release STATISTIK AUSTRIA - Pressemitteilungen, which is issued through the Austrian Press Agency. The press release is also available to all interested parties by fax or mail or on the website of Statistics Austria (STATISTIK AUSTRIA - Press). |
| Integrity |
Dissemination of terms and
conditions under which
official statistics are
produced, including those
relating to the confidentiality
of individually identifiable
information | 0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics Statistik Austria
- All statistics collected and published by STATISTIK AUSTRIA are governed by:
- the Federal Statistics Act (Bundesstatistikgesetz 2000, the Federal Law GAZETTEI No. 163/1999 as amended by the Federal Law GAZETTE I No. 71/2003); and
- the Data Protection Act (Datenschutzgesetz 2000, the Federal Law GAZETTE I No. 165/1999 as amended by the Federal Law GAZETTE I No. 13/2005).
- The Federal Statistics Act includes a general obligation to publish statistics.
Merchandise trade
- Foreign trade statistics are based essentially on the following legal foundations of the European Union in current relevant version:
- Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on Community statistics relating the trading of goods between Member States and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 (OJ 2004 L102/1).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1982/2004 of 18 November 2004 implementing Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States and repealing Com-mission Regulations (EC) No 1901/2000 and (EEC) No 3590/92 (OJ 2004 L343/3).
- Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/95 of 22 May 1995 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods by the Community and its Member States with Non-member countries (OJ L 118/10).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1917/2000 of 7 September 2000 laying down certain provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/95 as regards statistics on external trade (OJ L 229/14).
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1833/2006 of 13 Dec 2006 on the nomenclature of countries and territories for the external trade statistics of the Community and statistics of trade between Member States (OJ L 364/19).
- Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 of 23 July 1987 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff (OJ L 256/1).
- In addition, the following Austrian legal foundations are applied in current relevant version:
- Trade Statistical Law (HStG) 1995, of 9. March 1995 (Federal Law GAZETTE No.173/1995).
- Regulation of the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs on characteristics on data collection concerning declaration of trade statistics of 10 March 1995 (Federal Law GAZETTE No. 181/1995).
- Regulation of the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Labor on threshold values for statistical declarations on trade (Handelsstatistikverordnung – HstatVO) of 20 September 2006 (Federal Law GAZETTEI II No. 358/2006).
0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies Statistik Austria
The Austrian system of official statistics is centralized to a very high degree, besides Statistics Austria only a few other Austrian bodies are providers for the production of Official Federal and Community Statistics; the corresponding statistical products are limited to few domains.
According to the Federal Statistics Act, Article 10, those bodies running public registers and possessors of statistics or administrative data are obliged to make these available if this is required by law.
Other (than Statistics Austria) data producing agencies are represented in the Central Statistical Commission (CSC) and in the technical sub-committees of the CSC, respectively. There are formal Co-operation Agreement with the Austrian National Bank, with the statistical services of the Länder and with the Austrian Economic Chamber. 0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data Statistik Austria
- Strict provisions on statistical confidentiality are contained in the Federal Statistics Act. The field on protection of personal data is covered by the Data Protection Act.
- Article 17(3) of the Federal Statistics Act requires staff working with personal data to treat these in strictest confidence. Article 17(4) says that “the confidentiality of statistics is an official secret”.
- All Statistics Austria staff sign confidentiality commitments on appointment.
- Beside legal provisions there range of network security measures and other technical controls to minimise the possibility of unauthorised access and there is a specific function within the organisation devoted to statistical confidentiality.
Merchandise trade In accordance with European Union regulations (Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 1172/95), publication of detailed aggregated data is blocked where a respondent claims that confidentiality would be breached because publication of aggregated data at a more detailed level would make him identifiable (passive confidentiality). 0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting Statistik Austria
- According to Article 19 of the Federal Statistics Act Statistics Austria is obliged to "… make statistics and their concepts, definitions and explanations accessible to the public without delay and in an appropriate form,…".
- According to Article 30 (1) of the Federal Statistics Act Statistics Austria “shall provide publish all main statistics free of charge on the internet”; according to Article 30 (2) Statistics Austria is obliged to “make detailed statistical results publicly available on suitable electronic databases at an appropriate fee to cover its costs”.
- The adherence of Statistics Austria to its obligation to publish all statistics is controlled by the independent Statistical Council.
0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing Statistik Austria
Statistics Austria fulfills all orders on basis of legal acts and contracts in all conscience and can manage with the resources available.
Total staff (excluding field staff/interviewers) in full time equivalents: 808 (number of staff: 849);
of which total staff dealing with IT matters (in full time equivalent units): 121.
Total annual budget including administrative expenses (in €): 66 Mio;
of which IT expenditures in %: 40%.
Note: Figures for 31 Dec 2006; estimation. 0.2.2 Ensuring efficient use of resources Statistik Austria
- Budgeting and mid-term planning based on business management principles;
- financial accounting and controlling system based on business management principles,
- rigorous project planning and controlling, efficient performance and cost control;
- rationalisation, reorganization, current process optimization;
- improvement of staff qualification, increase of the proportion of high qualified personnel, comprehensive in-house training programme;
- flexible way of working (process- and project-orientated); project management
- flexibility concering personnel recruitment;
- modern efficient IT full equipment;
- use of administrative data.
0.3.1 Monitoring user requirements Statistik Austria
- Long tradition of producer-user dialogue (Central Statistical Commission with 17 technical subcommittees covering all subject matter fields, working groups):
- According to Article 63 of the Federal Statistics Act Statistics Austria "shall have a Central Statistical Commission, … and technical subcommittees." In the Central Statistical Commission and the technical subcommittees the following institutions (users) are represented: The Federal Chancellery, all federal ministries, the Court of Auditors, provincial government bodies, the Austrian National Bank, the Austrian Economic Chamber, the Presidential Conference of Austrian Chambers of Agriculture, the Federal Chamber of Labour, the Austrian Trade Union Federation, the Federal Conference of Chambers of Freelance Workers, the Congress of Austrian Chambers of Agricultural Labour, the Austrian Association of Municipalities and the Austrian Association of Towns; the required number of practising economic, scientific and cultural experts, and the current Austrian representatives to the European Advisory Committee on Statistical Information in the Economic and Social Spheres (CEIES).
- According to Article 64 of the Federal Statistics Act "(1) The Central Statistical Commission shall advise the federal ministries, the Federal Statistics bodies and Statistik Österreich on Federal Statistics questions of general importance. (2) The technical subcommittees shall be responsible for the performance of duties pursuant to (1) hereabove, in the various technical areas."
- Current quality feedback-talks with users, external experts and the Quality Assurance Committee of the Statistical Council covering all statistics.
In Article 24 of the Federal Statistics Act it is stated that "statistics shall be subject to permanent control with the aim of improving quality"; Statistics Austria's current feedback-talks on quality serve as an instrument of monitoring users’ needs concerning quality aspects; users/external experts are invited to participate in this meetings, as well as for their comments on quality reports.
- Customer/user satisfaction survey based on the IMF questionnaire used in the framework of IMF Data ROSC.
0.4.1 Quality policy Statistik Austria
- Total Quality Management (TQM);
- Quality Managment Unit;
- TQM principles are laid down in the Austrian Federal Statistics Act and in the mission statement of Statistics Austria.
0.4.2 Quality monitoring Statistik Austria · Article 24 of the Federal Statistics Act: "… 2. statistical methods and procedures shall be applied using internationally accepted statistical principles and standards and shall be published; 3. statistics shall be subject to permanent control with the aim of improving quality; …". The adherence of Statistics Austria to the principles laid down in Article 24 of the Federal Statistics Act is controlled by the independent Statistical Council; concerning the adherence of Statistics Austria to the basic principles of the Austrian Federal Statistics Act the Statistical Council submits annual reports to the Federal Chancellor, federal ministers, the Economic Council and the management of Statistics Austria, an annual activity report of the Statistical Council is also presented to the National Assembly by the Federal Government.
· Quality reports must be provided for all statistics.
· Current quality feedback-talks with users, external experts and the Quality Assurance Committee of the Statistical Council. 0.4.3 Quality planning Statistik Austria
- Comprehensive project management methodology to be followed prior to launching new surveys including quality considerations.
- Formal user consultation forms part of the planning stage including discussions on quality.
1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics Statistik Austria
- The principles of impartiality and objectivity are laid down in the Federal Statistics Act ; the adherence of Statistics Austria to the principles of impartiality and objectivity is controlled by the independent Statistical Council; concerning the adherence of Statistics Austria to the basic principles of the Federal Statistics Act the Statistical Council submits annual reports to the Federal Chancellor, federal ministers, the Economic Council and the management of Statistics Austria, an annual activity report of the Statistical Council is also presented to the National Assembly by the Federal Government.
- All users get access to statistical releases at the same time (Federal Statistics Act, Article 30 (3)).
1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination Statistik Austria
- According to Article 38 of the Federal Statistics Act the Director General-Statistics of Statistics Austria is in all matters of scientific methodology personally responsible for the performance of his/her duties.
- According to Indicator 1.4 of the European Statistics Code of Practice the Director General-Statistics of Statistics Austria has the sole responsibility for deciding on statistical methods, standards and procedures and on the content and timing of statistical releases. The choice of statistical methods, standards and procedures, as well as on the content and timing of statistical press releases are never subject to Ministerial approval.
1.1.3 Commenting on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics Statistik Austria
The policy is laid down in the Federal Statistics Act; see Article 29 (2): "Statistik Österreich shall seek to ensure published statistics are properly used and interpreted." 1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination Statistik Austria
- According to Article 4 (3) of the Federal Statistics Act regulations shall set out:
- population or aggregate;
- statistical unit;
- characteristics of analytical interest;
- reference day of the survey;
- whether the survey will be conducted as a full survey or, subject to determination of the criteria to be used to establish sample size, as a sample based survey;
- continuity;
- periodicity;
- which data on which populations should be collated and which should be in personal/anonymous format;
- form of survey;
- respondents' duty to provide information and co-operate;
- registrars' and administrative and statistical data keepers' duty to co-operate;
- co-operation of local authorities and of district authorities.
- The statistical work programme of Statistics Austria providing information on all statistical projects - including dissemination - is available on the internet.
1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior Statistik Austria
Merchandise trade - Mission statement of Statistics Austria: http://www.statistik.at/web_en/about_us/responsibilities_and_principles/mission_statement/index.html.
- All Statistics Austria staff sign confidentiality commitments on appointment.
- All Statistics Austria staff sign a statement with regard to the adherence to the fundamental principles of official statistics on appointment. |
Identification of internal
government access to data
before release | 1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release Statistik Austria
The Federal Statistics Act states in §30 (3) explicitly the obligation of Statistics Austria to inform without delay the Federal Minister responsible for the subject matter concerned about the results of statistical surveys and to publish them simultaneously. There is only one exception related to instances when Ministers and statisticians are attending joint press conferences – in which case there is a half-day’s embargoed pre-release access. |
Identification of ministerial
commentary on the occasion of
statistical releases | 1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products Statistik Austria
According to indicator 1.6 of the European Statistics Code of Practice, statistical releases of Statistics Austria are clearly identified as products of the statistical authority (Statistics Austria). Statistical products of Statistics Austria can be recognized by the copyright, corporate design, logo. There is no ministerial commentary attached to the release of the data. |
Provision of information
about revision and advance
notice of major changes in
methodology | 4.3.1 Revision schedule When the provisional results for a reporting month are published, Statistics Austria revises the Austrian external trade statistics at the lowest level of breakdown for all the reporting months of the current year. This is necessary firstly because of the fall in the estimated number of late declarations for Intrastat and secondly because of the inclusion of supplementary information and corrections by the customs authorities for Extrastat. When the final annual results are published – usually in June of the following year – the provisional results for December are revised and the results of the 11 previous reporting months of the year in question are revised for the last time. 4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data Provisional data are identified by footnotes to relevant tables. General information on the revision policy is included in every publication format. 1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. Statistik Austria
Major changes in methodology, source data and statistical techniques are discussed in advance in the technical sub-committees of the Central Statistical Commission (CSC), information on changes are included in the annual statistical work programmes for the coming years. |
| Quality |
Dissemination of
documentation on methodology
and sources used in preparing
statistics | 5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques Methodological explanations are contained in the following publications:
- Austrian external trade, Series 1 and 2
- These publications contain a documentation on foreign trade methodology and data sources in a short form.
- The "Standard-Dokumentation – Metainformationen (Definitionen, Erläuterungen, Methoden, Qualität) zu den Außenhandelsstatistiken" contains a documentation on foreign trade methodology and data sources. The Standard-Documentation is available on the website of Statistics Austria http://www.statistik.at/web_de/dokumentationen/aussenhandel/index.html).
- INTRA EU Trade Statistics
5.2.2 Disseminated level of detail
- Customized data subscriptions
- Together with standard publications, users may, for an appropriate fee, subscribe to assessments tailored to their individual requirements with regard to data sectors and nomenclatures. These data may be obtained on paper as well as in electronic form on CD-ROM or via e-mail.
- Customized database queries
- For an appropriate fee database queries on request via e-mail or fax, tailored to individual requirements may be obtained on paper as well as in electronic form.
STATISTIK AUSTRIA,
Subdivision Foreign Trade,
Guglgasse 13,
A 1110 Vienna
Tel. 43 1 71128 7743
(See also summary methodology)
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Dissemination of component
detail, reconciliations with
related data, and statistical
frameworks that support
statistical cross-checks
and provide assurance of
reasonableness | 4.2.1 Internal consistency
- Data across different classifications is consistent. Analysis and publication by Statistics Austria of external trade statistics is in accordance with a national concept. These results cannot be directly compared with the results for Austria published by Eurostat owing to differences arising from the fact that the latter are analyzed in accordance with the Community concept, although both are based on the principle of Special Trade. There are two main differences between the Community and national concepts, relating to the definition of partner countries for imports and the statistical treatment of indirect goods traffic.
- From the EU point of view, transactions in goods between Member States are internal (intra-EU) trade, and imports are shown according to the country of consignment. For EU external trade (extra-EU trade), imports are shown according to country of origin in accordance with international agreements. This procedure makes sense in so far as analyzing imports solely by country of origin leads to duplications within the EU total if goods originating in a nonmember country are imported into a Member State and later dispatched to another Member State. In addition, in Intrastat the country of origin is not recorded in all Member States. From Austria's point of view, however, it makes very good sense to analyze data by country of origin as a general rule. For this reason, Statistics Austria publishes import data by country of origin; special analyses or individual database segments, however, also contain results by country of consignment.
- Indirect imports may be understood as imports from non-member countries where the country of destination is not Austria but another EU Member State; indirect exports are those to non-member countries where the country of consignment is not Austria but another EU Member State. Under the national concept, both types may be regarded as transit trade and are therefore not included in national external trade statistics. However, since the EU does regard them as imports into and exports from the EU, these transactions are forwarded to Eurostat and included in the relevant publications.
4.2.2 Temporal consistency As comparability over time is concerned, changes due to definitions, coverage or methods and other changes will have an impact on continuity. Probably the most important change in Austria's external trade statistics, which is also the only significant structural change since 1988, when the product nomenclature was changed with the introduction of the Harmonized System, came with its entry into the EU in 1995 and the resulting change in the collection system and its division into Intrastat and Extrastat. 4.2.3 Intersectoral and cross-domain consistency
- Consistency (coherence) is defined as how well sets of statistics can be used together. Apart from the foreign trade statistics information on external trade can be found in: the National Accounts, the business statistics and the Balance of Payments, which must relate to one another. However, the compilation of the data and the production of the above mentioned statistics follow the recommendations (sources and methods) of different international organizations, i.e. Eurostat, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), etc.
- The source material used by the Austrian National Bank for external trade data in the balance of payments statistics is Special Trade, which is included in external trade statistics and adapted in accordance with international principles for drawing up balance of payments statistics. These adaptations primarily cover the exclusion of contract processing and the inclusion of monetary gold. In addition, the Austrian National Bank estimates the FOB value of imports; the statistical value shown in the external trade statistics is generally CIF for imports and FOB for exports. The adapted value in the balance of payments statistics for trade in goods is also used for establishing the rest-of-the-world account in the context of the national accounts.
- Linking the results of external trade statistics to the results of production statistics could lead to problems in some cases. On the one hand there is no difference made between trade in goods produced in Austria and trade in goods imported and afterwards exported again, which may be called “reexported imports”. On the other hand detailed production data are available in accordance with Öprodcom, a national version of the Prodcom list, while external trade results conform to the Combined Nomenclature.
- Also a link of the foreign trade statistics with the transport statistics has been established and analyzed. Those statistics have been linked by commodity code and the net mass was compared to ensure its consistency.
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Footnotes
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Dissemination
