1988R0571 — EN — 05.09.2004 — 005.001

This document is meant purely as a documentation tool and the institutions do not assume any liability for its contents

Amended by:





Amended by:

A1 Act of Accession of Austria, Sweden and Finland C 241 21 29.8.1994 (adapted by Council Decision 95/1/EC, Euratom, ECSC) L 001 1 ..







NB: This consolidated version contains references to the European unit of accout and/or the ecu, which from 1 January 1999 should be understood as references to the euro — Council Regulation (EEC) No 3308/80 (OJ L 345, 20.12.1980, p. 1) and Coundil Regulation (EC) No 1103/97 (OJ L 162, 19.6.1997, p. 1).









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COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 571/88

of 29 February 1988

on the organization of Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings ►M6 ◄







THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposals from the Commission ( 1 ), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ( 2 ), Whereas trends in the structure of agricultural holdings are an important factor in determining the development of the common agricultural policy; whereas the series of surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings, carried out on a Community basis since 1966/67, should be continued; Whereas such trends cannot be examined at Community level unless comparable data are available for all the Member States; whereas it is therefore necessary to continue previous harmonization and synchronization efforts; Whereas the workloads of the Member States and of the Commission in the execution of this task must be reduced as much as possible; Whereas, where at all possible, the characteristics, definitions and geographic units laid down for similar previous structure surveys should be retained; Whereas, when determining the characteristics to be examined ►M6 ◄ , there must be an endeavour to curtail as far as possible the workload of persons concerned by the survey; Whereas, in order to assess the situation of Community agriculture and monitor trends in agricultural structures, it is necessary to carry out at regular intervals statistical surveys in agricultural holdings which have a certain agricultural area utilized for farming or if they produce a certain proportion for sale or whose production exceeds certain physical thresholds; Whereas, in view of the variety of statistical services in the Member States, the efficiency of sample survey methods and the necessity to obtain reliable information at reasonable cost, Member States should be allowed to decide whether the surveys they carry out are of a full or sample type, on condition that the results of the random sample surveys are reliable at the various levels of aggregation required; Whereas it is nonetheless necessary to carry out, at least every ten years, a census (full survey) of all the agricultural holdings in order to update the basic registers of holdings and the other information required for the stratification of sample surveys; ▼M6 Whereas, when the procedures to be employed for the Community censuses in 1989/90 and 1999/2000 are determined, acocunt (SIC! account) must be taken as far as possible of the recommendations of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regarding world censuses of agriculture to be conducted sometime around 1990 and also around 2000; ▼B Whereas for the requirements of agricultural policy it is necessary to provide the statistical offices of the Member States and the Commission with a new system of analysing the data and disseminating the results of the surveys which is more flexible and rapid than the previous one, while alleviating the workload of the Member States; Whereas the introduction of adequate procedures enabling the Commission and the Member States to make the best use of the statistics prepared from the data collected in surveys of the structures of agricultural holdings should be facilitated; Whereas individual data are subject to statistical confidentiality; Whereas it is necessary, when implementing a new system for the use of surveys and the circulation of their results, to take account of the positions of the Directors-General of the Member States' national statistical institutions on the preparation of rules on the confidentiality of statistics, to ensure close cooperation between the Member States in the analysis of the data; Whereas the coordinating role of the Statistical Office of the European Community is necessary to meet the Community requirements for information in the field in question and to ensure uniform analysis of the results obtained; Whereas, in order to carry out these surveys, considerable funding will be required from both the Member States and the Commission over a number of years, a large proportion of which will be used to meet the requirements of the Community; whereas provision should therefore be made for a Community subsidy to assist this programme; Whereas, in order to facilitate the implementation of the provisions of this Regulation, close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission should continue, in particular via the Standing Committee for Agricultural Statistics set up by Decision 72/279/EEC ( 3 ), HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:







Article 1

As part of the programme of statistical surveys of the Community, Member States shall, between ►M6 1988 and 2007 ◄ , carry out surveys on the structure of the agricultural holdings in their territories, hereinafter referred to as ‘surveys’. The reference periods of these surveys are set out in Articles 2 and 3.

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Article 2

1. In line with the FAO recommendations for world censuses of agriculture, Member States shall carry out a basic survey in one or more stages in the form of a general census (full survey) of all agricultural holdings, between 1 December 1988 and 1 March 1991 and between 1 December 1998 and 1 March 2001 respectively. These surveys shall relate to the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 1989 or 1990 and in 1999 or 2000.

Nevertheless, in the framework of the 1989/90 basic survey, Member States may use random sample surveys, hereinafter referred to as ‘sample survey’ for certain characteristics; the results obtained thereby shall be extrapolated.

2. Member States may, however, bring forward or defer the carrying out in the 1989/90 basic survey by 12 months at most, in which case they shall carry out a sample survey, relating to one of the crop years 1989 or 1990.

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Article 3

The following surveys ►M6 (interim surveys) ◄ on the structure of agricultural holdings shall be carried out in one or more stages in the form of full or sample surveys:

(a) between 1 December 1992 and 1 March 1994, covering the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 1993 (structure survey 1993);

(b) between 1 December 1994 and 1 March 1996, covering the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 1995 (structure survey 1995); and

(c) between 1 December 1996 and 1 March 1998, covering the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 1997 (structure survey 1997);

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(d) between 1 December 2002 and 1 March 2004, covering the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 2003 (structure survey 2003);

(e) between 1 December 2004 and 1 March 2006, covering the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 2005 (structure survey 2005); and

(f) between 1 December 2006 and 1 March 2008, covering the crop year corresponding to the crop to be harvested in 2007 (structure survey 2007).

Article 4

Member States conducting sample surveys shall take the necessary steps to obtain reliable results at the various levels of aggregation required, which are as follows:

— the regions referred to in Article 8,

— the districts referred to in Article 8 (for base surveys only),

— the ‘objective zones’ within the meaning of Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 ( 4 ) and Commission Decision 94/197/EC ( 5 ) (for the 1999/2000 basic survey only),

and in so far as the following territorial units are important locally:

— the ‘less-favoured agricultural areas’ as defined in Article 3 of Directive 75/268/EEC ( 6 ) and the ‘mountain areas’ as defined in paragraph 3 of the same Article,

— the principal technical economic guide-lines within the meaning of Decision 85/377/EEC ( 7 ),

— the particular technical economic guide-lines within the meaning of the same Decision.

Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that samples are structured in a way which allows the use of one single coefficient per holding for raising the information collected by sampling.

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Article 5

For the purposes of applying this Regulation:

(a) ‘agricultural holding’ shall mean a single unit, both technically and economically, which has a single management and which produces agricultural products;

(b) ‘agricultural area utilized for farming’ shall mean the total area taken up by arable land, permanent pasture and meadow, land used for permanent crops and kitchen gardens.

Article 6

The surveys shall cover:

(a) agricultural holdings where the agricultural area utilized for farming is one hectare or more;

(b) agricultural holdings where the agricultural area utilized for farming is less than one hectare, if they produce a certain proportion for sale or if their production unit exceeds certain physical thresholds.

However, Member States which use a different survey threshold commit themselves to fixing this threshold at a level excluding only the smallest holdings which together contribute 1% or less to the total standard gross margin (SGM), within the meaning of Decision 85/377/EEC, for the Member State concerned.

Before the surveys are carried out Member States shall inform the Commission of the methods used to fix their thresholds.

Article 7

1. In the case of combined crops, the agricultural area utilized for farming shall be allocated between the various crops in proportion to the amount of land the latter take up.

The procedure for this allocation and, if appropriate, exceptions to the general rule will be settled by the Member States in agreement with the Commission.

Furthermore, the area used for combined crops shall also be recorded separately from the utiized (SIC! utilized) agricultural area (UAA) in accordance with the groupings listed in Annex I.

2. The area used for successive secondary crops shall be recorded separately from the ‘utilized agricultural area.’

Successive secondary crops shall be enumerated in accordance with the groupings listed in Annex I.

Article 8

1. Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the information collected in the surveys referred to in this Regulation complies with the characteristics listed in Annex I. The changes to be made to that list of characteristics for the ►M6 1993 to 2007 ◄ surveys shall be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15.

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2. In the framework of determining the list of characteristics for the 1992/2000 basic survey, Member States may, at their request and on the basis of appropriate documentation, be authorized by the Commission, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15, to use random sample surveys for certain characteristics.

In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15, likewise on request and on the basis of appropriate documentation and in the framework of determining the list of survey characteristics, Member States may be authorized to use, for certain characteristics as from the 1997 survey, already available information from sources other than statistical surveys.

3. In the 1999/2000 basic survey, the geographical situation of each holding shall be defined by a code which allows for aggregation by territorial units lower than the survey-district level or at least by objective zones.

4. The definitions relating to the characteristics and to the delimination (SIC! delimitation) and coding of regions, survey districts and other territorial units shall be fixed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15.

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►M6 5 ◄ . Where, for the purpose of applying the Community typology for agricultural holdings in certain Member States, standard gross margins have been established relating to subdivisions of certain characteristics listed in Annex 1, the Member States concerned shall collect all the information necessary to permit the application of these standard gross margins.

Article 9

Member States shall take all appropriate steps to carry out the surveys in their territories. In particular they shall:

(a) devise questionnaires appropriate to the collection of the information provided for in the list of characteristics mentioned in Article 8 (1);

(b) check whether the questionnaires have been completed in full and whether the replies are credible; where necessary and as far as possible, they shall complete missing data and correct inaccurate data.

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Article 10

Member States shall forward to the Statistical Office of the European Communities the information mentioned in Article 8 (1) obtained from the censuses and sample surveys in the form of individual data per holding, in accordance with the procedure described in Annex II, hereafter called ‘Eurofarm project’.

Member States shall ensure that the data transferred in the Eurofarm standard record layout are complete and plausible, using the uniform checking conditions laid down by the Statistical Office of the European Communities after close collaboration with the competent services of the Member States; they shall also use the checking tables mentioned in paragraph 9 of Annex II for checking individual data.

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Article 11

Member States shall supply the Statistical Office of the European Communities with any information it may require of them regarding the organization and methodology of the surveys covered by this Regulation; in particular, they shall provide detailes (SIC! details) of the timetable for the data collection operations in the field.

Article 12

In the context of the Eurofarm project, the Statistical Office of the European Communities shall be responsible for disseminating the tabular results of the survey. The practical details of such dissemination shall be agreed by the appropriate committees and working parties.

Article 13

Every three years, and in the first instance not later than 31 December 1992, the Commission shall submit to the Council a report on the operation of the Eurofarm project. It shall propose any necessary changes to this Regulation.

Article 14

1. As a contribution to expenses incurred by the Member States ►M6 in carrying out the surveys provided for in Articles 2 and 3 ◄ , 20 ECU per holding for which complete survey results are forwarded to the Statistical Office of the European Communities shall be reimbursed up to a maximum per survey of:

— 100 000 ECU for Luxembourg,

— 500 000 ECU for Belgium and Denmark,

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— ECU 600 000 for Sweden,

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— 700 000 ECU for the Netherlands,

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— ECU 700 000 for Finland,

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— 1 100 000 ECU for Ireland,

— 1 300 000 ECU for the United Kingdom,

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— ECU 1 400 000 for Austria.

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— 2 000 000 ECU for Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal,

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— EUR 25 000 for Malta,

— EUR 200 000 for Cyprus,

— EUR 500 000 for Estonia and Slovenia,

— EUR 700 000 for Slovakia,

— EUR 1 100 000 for the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania,

— EUR 2 000 000 for Hungary and Poland.

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For Member States which carry out a general census (full survey) in 1999/2000 of all agricultural holdings surveying all the required characteristics, the abovementioned sums shall be increased by 50%.

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The financial framework for the implementation of this programme, including the appropriations necessary for the management of the Eurofarm project, shall be set at EUR 43,7 million for the period 2004-2006.

The amount for the period 2007-2009 will be fixed by the budgetary and legislative authority on a proposal from the Commission on the basis of the new financial perspective for the period commencing in 2007.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

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2. The maximum annual financial reference amount for the development, maintenance, necessary adaptations to, and management of, the Eurofarm project, including dissemination of results, shall be:

— ECU 480 000 for 1989,

— ECU 440 000 for 1990,

— ECU 240 000 for 1991,

— ECU 80 000 for the years 1992 to 1998,

— ECU 700 000 for the years 1999 and 2000,

— ECU 550 000 for the years 2001 to 2010.

The annual appropriations shall be authorized by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

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Article 15

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on Agricultural Statistics, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’.

2. Where reference is made to this Article, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC ( 8 ) shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at one month.

3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

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Article 16

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

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ANNEX I

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ANNEX II

EUROFARM PROJECT

Description and content

1. The Eurofarm project is a set of data banks to be used for processing Community surveys on the structure of agricultural holdings for the requirements of national and Community agricultural policies. The project will be designed and implemented by the statistical services of the Member States and of the Commission, working in close consultation and with Commission support.

2. The Eurofarm data banks are as follows: ▼M6 — the individual data bank (BDI), which will contain the individual data not directly indentifiable (SIC! identifiable) on all holdings (in the case of basic surveys) or data on all holdings or on a representative sample of holdings (in the case of interim surveys) which is sufficient to enable analyses to be carried out at the geographical levels mentioned in Article 4 of the Regulation. ▼B — the Tabular Data Bank (BDT), which will contain the survey results in the form of statistical tables. The contents of the BDT will be decided in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15 of this Regulation.

Location of the data banks

3. ►M6 Except in case of the individual data of Germany concerning the 1988 to 1997 surveys ◄ , the BDI for all Member States is located in a Commission processing centre. The Statistical Office of the European Communities has sole responsibility for access to it and for its management.

4. The BDT is housed in a Commission processing centre.

Communication of the individual data to the Statistical Office of the European Communities

5. Individual data will be supplied using a uniform code specified by Eurostat in agreement with the Member States and within time limits to be determined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15 of this Regulation.

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6. By way of derogation, Germany will not forward individual data but tabular results corresponding to the BDT table programme mentioned under paragraph 2. This derogation expires after the surveys of the period 1988 to 1997. Germany undertakes to centralize the individual data on a magnetic carrier in a single data-processing centre, within 12 months of completion of data collection in the field.

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Communication of the tabular data

7. On the basis of the individual data supplied by the Member States the Statistical Office of the European Communities will compile: — tables intended for BDT, — ad hoc tables as defined in paragraph 15.

8.1. Where the individual data forwarded by the Member States do not enable the Statistical Office of the European Communities to prepare all the tables for the BDT specified in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 15, the Member States in question shall undertake to supply the missing tables three months after the date for the forwarding of individual data referred to in paragraph 5 of the Annex.

8.2. Where the individual data forwarded by the Member States do not enable the Statistical Office of the European Communities to prepare the ad hoc tables based on the characteristics listed in Annex I, the Commission, in collaboration with the Member States, shall consider how the tables in question are to be forwarded.

9. Together with the individual data the Member States undertake to forward the checking tables which will be defined by the Statistical Office of the European Communities in concert with the Member States.

Confidentiality of individual data

10. The individual data must be forwarded to the Statistical Office of the European Communities in an anonymous form which does not allow holdings to be directly identified.

11. The Commission will take suitable precautions within its data-processing system to safeguard the confidentiality of the data and shall inform the Member States thereof.

12. Access to the individual data is restricted to the persons responsible within the Statistical Office of the European Communities for implementation of the Regulation.

13. The tables referred to in paragraph 14 must not allow direct or indirect identification of holdings.

Use of the data and dissemination of the results

14. The Statistical Office of the European Communities undertakes to use the individual data communicated by the Member States for statistical purposes only, and to exclude all use for administrative ends. The individual data will be used in compiling: — the tables contained in the BDT, — the ad hoc tables.

15. Ad hoc tables are those for which no provision has been made in the original Community programme fixing the content of the BDT, but whose compilation, on the basis of the characteristics indicated in Annex I, is requested in order to satisfy the information requirements of the Community institutions or of the Member States' statistical offices.

Coordination

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16. In the framework of their respective responsibilities and in accordance with Regulation (Euratom, EEC) No 1588/90, the Statistical Office of the European Communities and the Member States will establish rapid consultation procedures with a view to: — ensuring the confidentiality and statistical reliability of the information prepared on the basis of the individual data, — informing the Member States of the use made of these data.