RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/CSC/W/6/Add.9
27March 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1246)
Committee onSpecific Commitments
ADETAILED ANALYSIS OFTHE MODIFICATIONS BROUGHT
ABOUT BYTHE REVISION OFTHE CENTRAL
PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION
Note bytheSecretariat
Addendum
BUSINESS SERVICES, COMPUTER
AND RELATED SERVICES
1. Paragraph 5ofthereport ofthemeeting oftheCommittee onSpecific Commitments heldon
10October 1996, states that"...theSecretariat should takeupcontact withtheVoorburg Group with
aviewtoinforming theCommittee inthenearfuture ofanyproposed changes totheCPCwhich could
beofinterest intheCommittee 'sdeliberations ".
2. Thestatistical committee oftheUnited Nations adopted atits10-14 February 1997 Session
thedraftCPCRev.1 proposed bytheVoorburg group. Adefinitive version ofRev.1 hasnowbeen
finalizedandwillsoonbedistributedtoMembers.ThisdocumentwillallowMemberstoconsultdirectly
theconcordances tables andthedefinitions mentioned inthepresent noteandtocompare them with
theCPC provisional structure anddefinitions iftheyfeelituseful todoso.Thisiswhy, contrary
tothepreceding sectoral studies ontourism, energy, transport, distribution andconstruction, the
concordance tables andthedefinitions havenotbeenannexed tothepresent note.
3. Thepurpose ofthepresent noteistoanalyse indetail themodifications brought bytheCPC
Rev.1 inthecomputer andrelated services sub-sector, which ispartofthebusiness services sector
asdefined intheGNSClassification.1Itwillproceed through acomparison ofthecomplete structures
ofbothclassifications asputinconcordance bytheCPC drafters andaswellthrough acomparison
oftheirdescriptive parts. Itwillfollow theorder oftheconcordance tablebetween theprovisional
CPCandtheCPCversion 1andoftheGNS classification. Theprovisional CPCwillbereferred to
as"prov",CPCrev.1 as"rev",CPCprovisional items as"pXXXX", andCPCrev.1 items as"rXXXX".
4. Inthepresent note,ithasbeenthought moreappropriate toretain thetechnical terms putforward
intheprovisional CPC'spreface, andusedbytheVoorburg Group when communicating withthe
Secretariat, instead ofthose --referring tothenumbering ofthedigits --previously usedintheseries
ofnotes already issued bytheSecretariat astothetourism, distribution, construction, energy and
transport sectors. Thecoding system oftheCPCisdescribed asfollows inparagraph 33ofprovCPC
preface: "Thecoding system ofCPCishierarchical andpurely decimal. Theclassification consists
ofsections (identified bythefirstdigit), divisions (identified bythefirstandsecond digit), groups
1Seedocument MTN.GNS/W/120.S/CSC/W/6/Add.9
Page2
(identified bythefirstthreedigits), classes (identified bythefirstfourdigits) andsubclasses (identified
byallfivedigits, taketogether). Thecodes forthesection range from0through 9andeachsection
maybedivided intoninedivisions. Atthethirddigitofthecodeeachdivision may,inturn,bedivided
intoninegroups which would thenbefurther divided intonineclasses andthenintoninesubclasses. ".
Paragraph 35ofprovCPCpreface adds: "Where agiven levelofclassification isnotfurther subdivided,
a"0"isusedintheposition forthenextmore detailed level."Thefollowing chart summarizes the
correspondence between these twolanguages.
One-digit item Section
Two-digits item Division
Three-digits item Group
Four-digits item Class
Five-digits item Subclass
5. Theabbreviation "n.e.c." means "notelsewhere classified".
6. Thesignification oftheasterisks intheconcordance tableisthefollowing:
xxx*: Theitemiswider thanitscorrespondent intheother version ofCPC. Thismeans
thatitcorresponds toseveral items intheother version ofCPCandhasconsequently
awider scope according totherelated explanatory notes. Asterisks always appear
intheright-hand column ofconcordance tables.
xxxx
****1
****2 Theseries ofasterisks before thelastdigitaimsatavoiding therepetition ofthefour
previous digits when asetofitems having thesame prefix isreferred.
7. GNS classification listsection 1paraB.equals provisional CPC division 84,andtherefore
thereisatightcorrespondence between division p84sublevels atthethirddigitandtheComputer and
Related Services sub-sector sub-items, which correspond eachwithonlyonegroup (except forthe
category "other" (point e.),referring totheadding upofgroup 845andgroup 849), andkeepwith
thenumerical order ofdivision p84'sgroups.
8. InCPCrev.1, division p84"Computer andrelated services" hascompletely disappeared as
such, anditscontent hasbeenredistributed intofivenewdivisions: division r83*"Other professional,
scientific andtechnical services" ,division r84*"Telecommunications services; Information retrieval
andsupply services" ,anddivision r85*"Support services" division r87*"Production services, ona
feeorcontract basis" .
9. Atthethird-digit level, thereorganization hasimplied thedistinction, ontheonehand, of
onemain field, formalized bygroup r831* "Consulting andmanagement services" ,which isrelatedS/CSC/W/6/Add.9
Page3
tothree former provgroups, namely group p841 "Consultancy services related totheinstallation of
computer hardware" ,andgroup p842 "Software implementation services" ;and,ontheother hand,
ofthree other fields appearing respectively in
- group r871* "Maintenance andrepair services offabricated metal products, machinery
andequipment" ,connected withformer group p845"Maintenance andrepair services
ofoffice machinery andequipment including computer" ,
- group r843* "On-line information provision services" ,corresponding togroup p844
"Data baseservices" ,
- andgroup r859* "Other support services" related tobothgroup p843"Data processing
services" andgroup p849 "Other computer services" .
10. According toconcordance tables, thenewitems aremade fromthemerger ofmaterial having
variousorigin,exceedingthecomputerandrelatedservicessector,asitresultsfromtheasterisksattached
toeachitemontherightsideoffigure 1.
11. Asamatter ofageneral relevance, theVoorburg Group hasproposed definitions ofcertain
devices, namely: hardware, software, adatabase andacomputer. These definitions readasfollows:
- Hardware canberegarded asallofthetangible physical products which together make
upacomputer, examples being harddrive, monitors andkeyboards.
- Software canberegarded asprogrammes andcodes, andcanbeeither application
software fortheuseroritcanbeasoftware thatallows thecomputer tooperate and
provides support fortheapplication software.
- Adatabase canberegarded assoftware specifically designed forthestorage,
manipulation andretrieval ofdataandinformation.
- Acomputer system iscomprised ofalltheabove components.
A. Consultancy Services Related totheInstallation ofComputer Hardware (Group p841)
12. Single-class p8410 andsingle-subclass p84100 "Consultancy services related totheinstallation
ofcomputer hardware" correspond tosubclass r83141 "Hardware consultancy services" (partofclass
r8314* "Computer consultancy services" ).
13. Thisfieldhasbeencompletely redefined andwidened. Whereas itwasoriginally supposed
todealonlywithassistance services totheclients intheinstallation ofcomputer hardware andcomputer
networks, itnowcovers provision ofadvice andassistance onmatters related tothemanagement of
businesses 'andinstitutions 'computer resources; these services include assessment ofthecomputer
needs oftheorganization, planning oftheorganization 'sacquisitions, counsel ontheprocurement of
hardware and(also) software, consultancy onsystem security, auditonthecomputer-related operations
oftheorganization, etc.S/CSC/W/6/Add.9
Page4
B. Software Implementation Services (Group p842)
14. Group p842"Software implementation services" formerly comprised fiveclasses: classp8421
"Systems andsoftware consulting services" ,class p8422 "Systems analysis services" ,class p8423
"Systems design services" ,classp8424 "Programming services" andclassp8425 "Systems maintenance
services" .Allofthem arenowrelated tonewclassr8314* "Computer consultancy services" .
15. Atthefive-digitlevel,thecoverageofthenewsubclassr83142"Computerconsultancyservices"
exactly corresponds totheadding upofthecoverages ofthefourformer single-subclasses related to
it(p84210, p84220, p84230, p84240). Concerning thenewexplanatory noteunder subclass r83142,
thefollowing remarks canbemade:
- Thenewdefinition contained inthisexplanatory notepresents greater accuracy, since
itcovers "development (analysis, design andprogramming) ofsoftware for,andto
meettherequirement of,aspecific client","modification ofapackaged software ",
"provision ofadvice andassistance ontechnical matters related tocomputer systems ",
which specifically includes "-conducting feasibility studies ontheimplementation of
asystem,-providingspecificationsforadatabasedesign,-providingtechnicalexpertise
fortheintegrationofhardwareandsoftware,-providingguidanceandassistanceduring
thestart-up phase ofanewsystem, -providing specifications tosecure adatabase
andsoon",and"provision oftraining services ".Compared tothenewdefinition,
theformer definitions weredrafted inamuch vaguer manner: forinstance, subclass
p84210 originally referred onlyto"services ofageneral nature priortothedevelopment
ofdataprocessing systems andapplications ",pointing tomanagement services and
project planning services.
- Thethreesubclasses which dealtinparticular withsystems analysis (p84210), systems
design (p84220) andprogramming (p84230) arenowconcentrated inthenewsubclass
firstitem(thedefinition isanitemized one), which defines software development as
the"analysis, design andprogramming "ofsoftware, soasotheroperations enumerated
inthenewexplanatorynotearenowpotentiallyrelevanttoeachofthosedifferentstages.
- TheVoorburg Group hasindicated thattherehasbeennochange incoverage orcontent
ofclassaccruing from modifications implemented insubclass r83142.
16. Subclass p84250 "Systems maintenance services" corresponds tobothsubclass r83149 "Other
computer consultancy services" andsubclass r83160 "Systems maintenance services" .Theexplanatory
notesundertheseCPCrev.1subclassesclearlyexceedthepurviewoftheexplanatorynoteundersubclass
p84250. Thissubclass usedtoinclude consulting andtechnical assistance services ofsoftware products
inuse,rewriting orchanging existing programmes orsystems, andmaintaining up-to-date software
documentation andmanuals; italsoincluded specialist work, e.g.conversions. Theexplanatory note
undersubclassr83149"Othercomputerconsultancyservices"includestheprovisionofcomputer-related
professional services notelsewhere classified, suchasdevelopment ofservice-level agreements services,
disaster recovery services (software), implementation planning services, quality assurance planning
services, system implementation support services, system quality assurance services, system integration
services;itincludesaswelltheprovisionofcomputerservicesnotelsewhereclassified.Theexplanatory
noteunder r83160 "Systems maintenance services" includes theprovision ofpersonnel tomanage and
operate client-owned (leased) facilities onanon.going basiswhether these facilities arelocated onthe
client'sorsupplier 'ssite.2
2Theincidental development ofsoftware mayform anintegral component ofthisservice.S/CSC/W/6/Add.9
Page5
C. DataProcessing Services (Group 843)
17. Inprov, former group p843"Data processing services" wasdivided infourclasses, classp8431
"Input preparation services" ,class p8432 "Data processing services" ,class p8433 "Time sharing
services" andclassp8439 "Other dataprocessing services" .Those items arenowreorganized: they
aremerged intoasingle-class r8596 "Computer processing services" (relevant togroup r859* "Other
support services" ,partofdivision r85"Support services" ),while partofclass p8439 "Other data
processing services" isaggregated tosingle-class r8315* "Computer facility management services" .
18. Thesingle-subclass r85960 "Computer processing services" attached explanatory notedetails
almost thesamecontent ascorresponding provexplanatory notes, improving accuracy andsuppressing
conceptual blurexplicitly admitted byprovasbetween p84320 andp84330.3However, mentions of
computer-room environmental quality control, ofmanagement services ofin-place computer equipment
combinations andofcomputer work flows anddistributions aredeleted (itismore generally referred
to"provision ofcomputer processing services notelsewhere classified ").TheVoorburg Group has
indicated thatcomputer-room environmental quality control, management services ofin-place computer
equipmentcombinationsandcomputerworkflowsanddistributionsremainimplicitlycoveredinsubclass
r83150 "Computer facilities management services" ;inthiscase, provCPCsubclass p84390 "Other
dataprocessing services" isonlylinked tosubclass r83150 "Computer facilities management" ,which
expressly covers theprovision ofpersonnel tomanage andoperate client-owned (leased) computer
facilities onanon-going basis (seenextparagraph).
19. Former subclass p84390 "Other dataprocessing services" concords withsingle-subclass r83150
"Computer facility management services" .According totheattached explanatory note,thenewsubclass
covers onlyprovision ofpersonnel tomanage andoperate client-owned (leased) computer facilities
onanon-going basis, which includes incidental development ofsoftware. Theformer explanatory
noteusedtoinclude services which manage thefulloperations ofacustomer 'sfacilities under contract:
computer-room environmental quality control services; management services ofin-place computer
equipment combinations; andmanagement services ofcomputer work flows anddistributions.
D. DataBaseServices (Group 844)
20. Former group p844 "Data baseservices" ,which included onlyoneclassandsubclass, used
tocover allservices provided fromprimarily structured databases through acommunication network
(totheexclusion ofdataandmessage transmission services perse,andofdocumentation services
consisting ofinformation retrieval from databases). Thecomplete content ofthisgroup isnow
transferred togroup r843, classr8430 andsubclass r84300 "On-line information provision services" ,
which arepartofthenewly-created division r84"Telecommunications services; Information retrieval
andsupply services" .
21. According toitsexplanatory note, subclass r84300 "On-line information provision services"
includes database services, provision ofinformation onweb-sites, provision ofon-line dataretrieval
3Explanatory noteunder subclass p8330 "Time-sharing services" reads asfollows: "Thisseems tobethesame
typeofservices as84320. Computer time only isbought; ifitisbought from thecustomer 'spremises,
telecommunications services arealso. Data processing ortabulation services mayalsobebought fromaservice
bureau. Inbothcases theservices might betimesharing processed. Thus, there isnoclear distinction between
84320 and84330. "S/CSC/W/6/Add.9
Page6
services fromdatabases andother information, toallorlimited number ofusers, provision ofon-line
information bycontent providers.4
E. Other (Group 845+849)
22. Since former group p845"Maintenance andrepair services ofoffice machinery andequipment
including computer" corresponds togroup r871* "Maintenance andrepair services offabricated metal
products, machinery andequipment" (partofthenewly created division r87"Maintenance andrepair
services" ),related single-class p8450 andsubclass p84500 (having thesame titleasgroup p845) have
beenbroken upbetween twodifferent setsofsingle classes andsubclasses: r8712* "Maintenance and
repair services ofoffice accounting machinery" andr8713* "Computer hardware servicing, repair
andmaintenance" .
23. With thisnewdistinction, alineisdrawn between "office andaccounting machinery and
equipment including photo copymachinery "treated insubclass r87120*5and"computing machinery
andequipment "(i.e.computer hardware) treated insubclass r87130*,6while original subclass generally
referred to"repair andmaintenance services ofoffice machinery, computer andrelated equipment ".
24. Finally, asfarasgroup p849"Other computer services" isconcerned, corresponding togroup
r859* "Other support services" ,which ispartofnewdivision r85"Support services" ,theaggregation
ofthetwoformer classp8491 "data preparation services" andclassp8499 "other computer n.e.c."
intoanewclassr8599* "Other support services n.e.c." should bementioned.7
25. Subclass r85990* "Other support services n.e.c." isaresidual subclass whose coverage has
aparticularly wideextension. Group p849formerly covered datapreparation services forclients not
involvingdataprocessing(subclassp84910)andothercomputer-relatedservicesnotelsewhereclassified:
e.g.training services forstaffofclients, andother professional computer services (subclass p84990).8
26. Inaddition, itisworth noting thatnewimportant items arementioned which havenoequivalent
intheexplanatory notes ofotherprovitems related tosubclass r85990: notably proof-reading, business
services ofintermediaries andbrokers, specialist advice other thanforrealestate, insurance and
4Itisworth noting thatCPCrev.1 hassetoutanewframework forthedescription ofthedifferent components
ofelectronic trade. Subclass r84200 "On-line access services" covers theprovision oftelecommunication net-
services orgateways necessary toaccess messages anddatabases andother information holdings ofcontent
providers; thisnotably includes theprovision ofInternet access. According toconcordance tables, thissubclass
isthecorrespondent inCPC rev.1 ofsubclass p75232 "Electronic message andinformation services" ,which
yetonlycovered network services necessary totransmit databetween equipment using thesame ordifferent
protocols, provided viaapublic ordedicated datanetwork.
5Theasterisk isduetothefactthatsubclass 87120 isconnected aswelltosubclass p88630 "Repair services n.e.c. of
office, accounting andcomputing machinery, onafeeorcontract basis" .
6Theasterisk isduetothefactthatsubclass 87120 isconnected aswelltosubclass p88630 "Repair services n.e.c. of
office, accounting andcomputing machinery, onafeeorcontract basis" ,andsubclass p75450 "Communications equipment
maintenance services" .
7Class r8599* alsoincludes parts offormer class p7549* "Other telecommunications services n.e.c." and
class p8790 "Other business services" .
8These mentions arenotreintroduced innewr85990* explanatory note, though datapreparation services in
particular, which donotinvolve processing, clearly cover awide range ofactivities.S/CSC/W/6/Add.9
Page7
engineering (specialist services inart,specialist services forcourt oflaw,etc.), services byagencies
onbehalf ofindividuals seeking engagements inmotion pictures, theatrical productions orother
entertainment orsports attractions, placement ofbooks, plays, artwork, photographs, etc.,with
publishers, producers, etc.,booking andcasting services, motion picture, television andothertheatrical
casting services, telephone based support services, issue ofreduced-price coupons andgiftstamp,
payroll services, including payroll computation andledgers, management services forcopyrights and
theirrevenues (except forfilms), management services forrights toindustrial property (patents, licences,
trade marks, franchises, etc.),9auctioning services other thaninconnection withlegal procedures,
andother business services notelsewhere classified. However, according totheVoorburg Group,
there hasbeennochange incoverage orcontent ofclassarising fromtheredrafting oftheexplanatory
note.
__________
9Here areconcerned societies collecting payments ofintellectual property royalties. Management services
for"artistic rights", i.e.rights other thanintellectual property rights, areexcluded.