WRITTEN QUESTION P-0891/96 by Karin Riis-Jørgensen (ELDR) to the Commission (2 April 1996)

Subject: Intrastat statistical system

Commission Regulation No 3046/92 ((OJ L 307, 23.10.1992, p. 27 )) on statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States lays down that firms in the EU must supply import and export data to Intrastat. For small and medium-sized undertakings (SMUs) in particular this requirement can entail considerable extra bookkeeping costs.

Given the experience acquired, does the Commission intend to review the provisions on reporting to Intrastat in the near future so as to ease the statistical burden on firms?

Given the general desire to simplify administrative formalities for SMUs, is the Commission aware of the difficulties they have in supplying eight-figure goods codes and reporting every month? Is there any possibility of basing Intrastat statistics on e.g. quarterly reports?

Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1996)

The Community and its Member States compile statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States on the basis of Council Regulation No 3330/91 of 7 November 1991 ((OJ L 316 of 16 November 1991. )). In accordance with this regulation, a new system for collecting data on intra-Community trade in goods (Intrastat) was set up in all the Member States. The Intrastat system replaced the previous system based on customs formalities and documentation, which were abolished within the Community on 1 January 1993.

Intrastat has been designed to ease the statistical burden on enterprises as far as possible without diminishing the reliability of the statistics. Two-thirds of the parties responsible for providing information have been exempted from all formalities thanks to the introduction of a system of statistical thresholds. Those enterprises which still need to make statistical declarations have to provide much less information than under the previous system and have access to electronic data processing packages (electronic forms).

These simplifying measures have, however, come up against certain constraints, particularly as regards the need for up-to-date detailed information broken down by product and partner country. The Commission has, in fact, noted that it is the representatives of enterprises themselves, i.e. the trade federations, which are insisting that a very detailed product classification (8-digit combined nomenclature) and monthly statistics be retained.

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, recently conducted a seminar and an opinion poll, both of which again confirmed the often conflicting opinions on Intrastat held by the parties responsible for providing the information and those using this information. The Commission is seeking to optimise the operation of the Intrastat system and is continuing its efforts to simplify the tasks of the parties responsible for providing information, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Under a recent initiative to simplify legislation for the internal market, the Intrastat system was selected as a pilot project, and proposals will be put forward for a whole series of practical measures to simplify the system (concerning the product classification, mode of transport, statistical value). These will then be quickly put into effect.