Statistics Poland

Agriculture Department

00-925 Warsaw, Al. Niepodległości 208

See sub-concepts below.

The survey is conducted by the Statistics Poland in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MARD, and with the Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute IPP NRI. Since 2018, only holders of permits for placing PPPs (plant protection products) on the market issued by the MARD are taken into account.

The data set comprises the annual sales of active substances contained in plant protection products placed on the national market for one calendar year according to the Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009 as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/269 of 16 February 2017 as regards the list of active substances.

The legal basis for the survey G-04 is provided by Article 30, Point 3 of the Law of 29 June 1995 on Official Statistics (Journal of Laws No. 88, Item 439, with later amendment), and the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 14 September of 2018 on on the programme of statistical surveys of official statistics for 2019

Law on Public Statistics: https://bip.stat.gov.pl/en/law/law-on-public-statistics/

Statistical confidentiality: https://bip.stat.gov.pl/en/law/statistical-confidentiality/

The programme of statistical surveys of official statistics for 2019: https://bip.stat.gov.pl/dzialalnosc-statystyki-publicznej/program-badan-statystycznych/pbssp-2019/

Statistics Poland

Law on Public Statistics: 1995

The programme of statistical surveys of official statistics for 2019: 2018

National legislation covers all variables required under EU regulation.

Full compliance with EU regulation

The data are expressed in kilograms of active substances.

The classification of the active substances in plant protection products is annexed (Annex III) to Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/269 of 16 February 2017 amending Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning statistics on pesticides.

The active substances are classified according to chemical and functional similarity. Aggregation levels in descending order comprise: major groups, categories of products, chemical classes and active substances.

The statistics cover the wholesale trade sector operating in placing plant protection products on the market.

All authorisation holders of plant protection products report the quantity of all active substances that are placed on the market nationally (incl. import data).

This data collection comprises pesticide sales data based on the term 'placing on the market' as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market. The scope of the Regulation covers plant protection products and their active substances as can be seen from the key terms of the act immediately below:

Plant protection products: products consisting of or containing active substances, safeners or synergists, and intended for one of the following uses:

• protecting plants or plant products against all harmful organisms or preventing the action of such organisms, unless the main purpose of these products is considered to be for reasons of hygiene rather than for the protection of plants or plant products;
• influencing the life processes of plants, such as substances influencing their growth, other than as a nutrient;
• preserving plant products, in so far as such substances or products are not subject to special Community provisions on preservatives;
• destroying undesired plants or parts of plants, except algae unless the products are applied on soil or water to protect plants;
• checking or preventing undesired growth of plants, except algae.

Active substances: substances or micro-organisms, including viruses, having general or specific action against harmful organisms or on plants, parts of plants or plant products.

Quantity: implies kilograms of the active substances placed on the market.

Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes a common framework for the systematic production of Community statistics on the placing on the market and agricultural use of those pesticides which are plant protection products as defined in Article 2 (a)(i). The statistics shall apply to the annual amounts of pesticides active substances placed on the market in accordance with Annex I and the quantity of active substances shall be aggregated according to the list in Annex III (as amended).

Statistical unit is the enterprise placing plant protection products on the market; authorisation holder or holder of parallel trade permits.

Ultimately, in 2019, the survey covered 244 entities and 2,411 PPPs.

All enterprises placing plant protection products on the market; authorisation holders and holders of parallel trade permits.

See sub-concepts below.

The entire territory of the country.

Not applicable

2011-19

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because it is not based on an index number of time series.

See sub-concepts below.

See sub-concepts below.

Not applicable.

The source dataset originates from the reports on the sales of PPPs based on the G-04 questionnaire. These reports are submitted by holders of MARD authorization for PPPs marketing (including proxies of entities having their registered offices outside Poland and without a REGON number). This is a full-scale obligatory survey. On G-04 form in addition to plant protection products rigidly assigned to the entity holding the authorization, it was possible to add an additional range of sales (so-called alien PPPs) - selection from the list. 

Annually.

The survey is conducted by the Statistics Poland in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MARD, and with the Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute IPP NRI. Data is collected using electronic questionnaires submitted to Statistics Poland Reporting Portal (polish abbreviation - PS) and is dedicated for units holding REGON id number.  The deadline for providing data to PS was February 19, 2020.

As agreed, a representative of the MARD sent to 172 proxies representing units having their registered office abroad (not holding REGON), separate questionnaires (in accordance with the list received from the Statistics Poland). Additionally MARD sent separate form for 3 domestic units which in our data-system were marked as closed, and had valid permits for PPPs marketing.  On March 13-25, 2020, MARD sent an additional reminder  to 101 reporting units. Additionally, according to the rules, data in paper format may be submitted by mail by entities employing 5 persons at the maximum. This year we did not receive "paper" forms, however xls forms showing sales of PPPs (for RA = 01, where RA is numerical status of survey completion, e.g. RA = 01 code is assigned automatically after correct filling in the form) were sent by e-mail by 4 reporting units employing less than 5 employees. The reason for providing these questionnaires in such forms stemmed from exceeding the deadline for the PS or problems related to computer hardware

From units other than proxies and other than entities employing up to 5 people, xls forms with the PPPs sale (RA = 01) were sent by e-mail by 7 reporting units. Information on the lack of PPPs sale during the reporting period (with assinged code RA = 03) was sent by e-mail by 8 reporting units. Reasons for not using the Reporting Portal:

• in 2 cases the units did not activate the account allowing for the submission of reports;
• in other cases, exceeding the date of availability of the survey on PS platform.

The completed forms were to be sent directly to the regional Statistical Office in Olsztyn. This procedure will be repeated every year with the option of implementing administrative penalties (by MARD) for not reporting.

The acquired data is processed by the means of the Computer System G04C28, based on the Windows operating system, using the NET package. The regional Statistical Office in Olsztyn analyses data in terms of accuracy. 

Reporting Portal PS usually is tested for functionality 2 weeks before the survey by teams from the Agriculture Department and Statistical Office in Olsztyn in cooperation with developers from IT center in Radom

The following validation processes of the obtained data are carried out by the employees of the Statistical Office in Olsztyn:

• catching outliers,
• an analysis of flows between companies within one group
• an acceptance of soft errors - confirmation of the lack of sale of PPPs of assigned in the personalization process,
• an analysis of sales indicators of individual PPPs in the control table Sales of PPPs by production units and importers in 2018 and 2019 in natural units,
• an analysis of differences in sales and changes in inventories in a given reporting unit.

Considerable differences are clarified with persons drawing up the report.  In the 2019 edition of the survey, employees of the Statistical Office in Olsztyn contacted 134 units, including:

• 17 cases concerned additional (apart from PS) monitoring of national units which were late in submitting reports;
• 117 operational contacts concerned the verification of the data provided.

There are analyzed cases where two units show the same PPP (e.g. authorization holder and distributor or holder of other authorizations). If necessary, the Statistical Office employee explains the differences by phone.

In 2019 as part of personalized PPPs: 40 cases of submitting of the same PPPs by various companies were analyzed, including: one PPP submitted by 3 different companiesand 39 PPPs submitted by 2 different companies. Ultimately, in the total  obtained data there were raported 76 cases of submitting the same PPP by different companies, of which: 3 PPPs submitted by 3 different companies and 73 PPPs submitted by 2 different companies.

Collective data compilations in natural units (litre, kg) are submitted to the MARD, which forwards them to the IPP - NRI where the sales of PPPs are converted from natural units into active substances. IPP – NRI compiles the final result tables. IPP – NRI aggregates and recalculate data according to the Eurostat classification (updated Annex III to the Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009) and indicates classes, categories and groups of PPPs to be confidencial (according to the principles of the Act on Public Statistics and taking into account secondary confidentiality).

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because the data collection is not based on time series.

See sub-concepts below.

The processes of data collection and data processing  is under a constant control of each involving in the survey unit. In Statistics Poland,  the G-04 survey is annually evaluated by the Quality Review carried out by the Department of Standards and Registers. The evaluation criteria (ex ante, ex post) of statistical surveys subject to quality reviews are:

- the statistical process from the point of view of: the accuracy of the study, the burden of respondents, the costs, punctuality;

- a statistical product in terms of: the suitability of the study, its comparability and coherence.

Furthermore the quality is assured by the data analyses and consultations with reporting units  carried out by workers  of regional office of Statistics Poland in Olsztyn. All data are checked in terms of completeness and consistency.

To ensure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Poland applies the EFQM ExcellenceModel, the EU Statistical Practices Code and the ESS Quality Assurance Principles (QAF).Statistics Poland is also guided by the requirements provided for in § 7. "Principles and qualitycriteria for the creation of official statistics" of the Act on public statistics. Currently is in force the internal regulation No. 35 of the President of the Statistics Poland of 28 December 2011 on measuring, evaluating and monitoring the quality of statistical surveys in official statistics services (regulation), art. 1: “In order to improve the quality of statistical surveys, the following requirements are introduced: the principles of the European Statistical Code of Practice; an annual action plan in the field of quality and long-term directions included in the programming documents of Polish official statistics;the nature of the tools related to the measurement, evaluation and monitoring of the quality of surveys in official statistics to be used by departments of the Statistics Poland and statistical offices, hereinafter referred to as "proprietary units", as part of their surveys.

In order to implement measures to improve quality, the Statistics Poland conducts: training in quality in official statistics; develops a quality review plan and guidelines and instructions for test authors; places information on data quality in publications and statistical studies as well as in metadata. Among the activities aimed at continuous improvement of the quality of official statistics, works are carried out in the field of improvement of data collection methods, including the electronic form of data collection in economic surveys and CAII, CAPI, CATI methods, building a new organization of statistical surveys; integration of economic research and social research; improving the quality of sampling frames for statistical surveys; increasing the use of administrative sources; development of work on public databases; conducting standardization activities in terms of concepts, variables, classifications, code lists, units of measurement, methodology and other metadata used in statistical surveys; expanding knowledge in the field of quality and motivating statisticians to take steps to continuously improve the quality of statistical surveys by: conducting trainings, including e-learning, developing instructions and guidelines, and providing educational information via the Intranet and the Internet; improvement of the metadata system; monitoring the quality of statistical processes through self-assessment and quality reviews; developing activities for research on respondent burden and user satisfaction; identifying and popularizing good practices in the field of increasing the quality in the national statistical system; conducting training on quality in official statistics.

STRENGHTS:

1) Data is based on trade documentation of reporting entities;
2) Data is submitted through electronic questionnaires;
3) The respondent burden is reduced by introducing a filtering question;
4) All entities which provided a positive response to the filtering question indicated sales of at least one ppp.
5) Personalization on Statistics Poland webform. Entities submitted the data on sale can see the list of ppp for which they posses MARD authorization.
6) Starting from the survey for 2018, a solution of collecting data only from authorization holders has been implemented. MARD will remind (by email) to representatives of foreign companies with no REGON number about the reporting obligation. Due to the involvement of MARD and the possibility of sanctions for not providing data, the completeness of the study improved significantly.

7)Regular meetings with permit holders organized by MARD have a positive effect on their willingness to cooperate and result in improving the quality of the survey.

WEAKNESSES:

1)The procedures related to the final list of PPPs and reporting entities provided by MARD require further development. Currently, its tidying up requires additional work on the part of the Statistical Office in Olsztyn and makes whole survey more time-consuming.

2) The number of negative answers (65 units with RA = 03 in 2019). This phenomenon is difficult to assess. The above mentioned data gaps probably contributed to a small extent to the final volume of sales of PPPs in Poland.

Data on the sales volume of PPPs may be used to asses the agricultural production conditions, the outlays incurred on agricultural production and the environmental impact. Additionally the sale data are useful  to food quality assesment purposes and important in food security domain. The pesticide sales statistics will be a significant element in calculating the indicators of pesticide risk. The data are used to shape the overall policy for the protection of plants as well. Comparison the statistics of sales and agricultural consumption  of PPPs is an important element in the use of data.

Data users include central offices, scientific and research institutes, students and enterprises operating in the agricultural sector.

Users of information from the report of the G-04 did not report additional needs. On this basis, we believe that they are fully satisfied with the obtained data. They make full use of the information presented in the publications of the Department of Agriculture, that is. "Agriculture in the year", "The means of production in agriculture in the farming year" and "Statistical Yearbook of Agriculture." Data from G-04 report as well as from other Statistics Poland PPPs surveys was assesed by MARD as usefull in the context of settlement of the implementation of the SUD directive.

The data collection covers all active substances of plant protection products placed on the national market and the information of all authorisation holders.

100%

See sub-concepts below.

Until 2017 the report did not cover all target enterprises because the reporting obligation did not apply to the entities not holding a REGON number, which have obtained the trade and use authorisation regarding PPPs, granted by the MARD. These companies could not report on the Reporting Portal due to the lack of a REGON number, which is only given to units operating on Poland territory. The data missing for the aforementioned reasons were  supplemented through the reports obtained from domestic distributors of PPPs participating in the survey. From  survey  of 2018  a solution of collecting data only from authorization holders has been implemented. The  formal meeting with authorization holders was organized by MARD (with the participation of Statistics Poland) to clarify all issues with reporting. Confirmed that MARD will remind (by email) power attorneys  of foreign companies with no REGON number about the reporting obligation.  A potential sanction for data non-delivery may be the withdrawal by MARD of the permit. After finishing process of data collection the list of authorization holders who did not fullfilled their reporting will be send to MARD. These activities may in our opinion improve data reliability and survey completness. Another problem is posed by those reporting entities (MARD permit owners) which provided a negative response to the filtering question (satisfying their reporting obligation) while they supposedly produced/imported PPPs. In 2019, the number of negative units (RA = 03) was 65, including those from Reporting Portal PS - 15. This phenomenon is difficult to assess. The above mentioned data gaps probably contributed to a small extent to the final volume of sales of PPPs in Poland. It should be added that there were no units which, after a positive filtering question, did not show any sales.

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because the data collection is not based on samples, but covers the whole statistical population of authorisation holders and plant protection products placed on the national market.

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because the data collection is not based on samples, but covers the whole statistical population of authorisation holders and plant protection products placed on the national market.

There is established set of validation rules in place, which makes the probability of such errors to a minimum.  Thanks to this, we did not notice errors when entering data or resulting from not following the instructions. However, in contacts with respondents there were inquiries regarding the full settlement of previously held stocks. It was about their partial or complete utilization and flows between enterprices within one group.

Until 2017 the report failed to cover the entities not holding a REGON number, which have obtained authorisation for ppp marketing, granted by the MARD. Pursuant to Article 30 of the Law of 29 June 1995 on Official Statistics (Journal of Laws No. 88, Item 439, with later amendment), the obligation to submit statistical data applies to those entities of the national economy which hold an identification number  in the national official register of entities of the national economy (referred to as the REGON number). From 2018 the solution of that issue was implemented and currently the sale data are collected only from MARD authorizations holders (including proxies of foreign entities which do not posses the REGON number).

2,4%

Number of liquidated, inactive entities = 6 in relation to all entities 250. In details:

The register of entities covered by the study includes:

• 3 units - an entity liquidated in the REGON register - completely or as a result of division, merger and other transformations;
• 1 unit - active entity - in liquidation;
• 1 unit - inactive entity - in liquidation;
• 1 unit - inactive entity - with suspended activity.

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics as the data stem from one source.

There is established set of validation rules on PS platform, which makes the probability of such errors to a minimum. Thanks to this, we did not notice errors when entering data or resulting from not following the instructions. 

With a view to achieving the highest level of completeness, the following filtering question was introduced: “Did you deal with the production or importation of PPPs with in the reporting period?” The response to this question allows for satisfying the reporting obligation (confirming negative reports).

34.0%

(RA03+RA24+RA14 / with obligation = 65+18+0/244 * 100% = 34.0%), where RA03 - entities >participating in the survey, which gave an negative answer, RA24 - entities not participating in the survey due to lack of contact, RA14  - >entities not participating in the survey due to lack of activity as a result of the bankruptcy or liquidation process

0.0%

All entities indicated sales of at least 1 plant protection product in relation to positive units.

In G04 form in addition to PPPs rigidly assigned to the authorization holding by the entity, it was possible for provider to add an additional range of sales (selection from the list of PPPs). An analysis of these PPPs not related to the authorization held by the entity allows obtaining data that were on the list for a given year but were not reported in the original part of the survey.

With a view to avoiding errors, certain assumptions were made to the G-04 questionnaire verification process in logical and accounting terms.

The report should list PPPs included in the dictionary (List of PPP compiled on the basis of the Register of PPPs admitted to marketing with the consent of the MARD. Thanks to the personalization functionality, the reporting entity has displayed the id and names of PPPs for which it has a permit. If in the current year it has recorded any sales volume, it completes the fields in columns from 3 to 7. If it does not sell, leave it blank. For those PPPs that he sold, but did not have a permit, then in field 1, the entity should open the attached glossary and select the PPP from the list . Commodity code, name and unit of measure will be loaded automatically when you select an item from the dictionary. As above, he must complete the fields in columns 3 to 7.

In box 3 it should indicate total sales of PPP, of which in box 4 from production, in box 5 from import, in box 6 from previous years' stock. In box 7  stock at the end of the reporting year should be submitted.

Saving the data starts the procedure that verifies the entered values. If the data contains errors, appropriate messages are displayed on the form. Absolute errors are signaled with a warning icon (X), and their occurrence prevents the form from being approved. The appearance of the icon with an exclamation mark indicates a discretionary error that can be approved, provided that it is justified. It is possible to display all errors in the report. Any entry on an approved report will result in the withdrawal of approval and such report must be reapproved.

Data on the G-04 form must comply with the following correctness rules:

1. Answer to the filtering question ("During the reporting period, did you deal with the sale of plant protection products from own production, from import / import or from stock?") is obligatory.

2. In column 1, select an item from the list of plant protection products. The selected item cannot appear on other lines.

3. If a plant protection product is selected, at least one of the boxes 3 to 7 must be completed.

4. Quantitative data in the report (boxes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) should be shown in the measurement units given in box 2 (kg or l), with one decimal place.

5. In each line, sales 'Total' must equal the sum of sales from production, sales from import and from last year's inventories, i.e. the relationship must be:col 3 = col 4 + col 5 + col 6

Failure to meet the above conditions is an absolute error that should be explained and corrected.

0,00%

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because the data collection is not based on estimations.

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because the reported data on plant protection products covers the whole year.

Data revision policy in the Statistics Poland is based on the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice. There are no planned revisions as such. The reasons for a revision may be mistakes in data source or errors made in the process of recalculations/aggregations or due to the changes in the methodology or data sources. Only finalised data are transmitted to Eurostat.

The data verification and revision procedure varies depending on the type of publication and the severity of the error.

On the stage of data collection in cases where submitted data seem abnormal or suspiciously compared to last year's data, e.g. when there is a problem with previous year PPPs stock settlement, data providers are contacted again in order to clarify.

In the case when the error is detected after online dissemination (where the publication is purely on-line), it will be corrected and published on the Web with an explanatory note. When the error was detected after the dissemination  of a given publication (including in the paper version), the data is changed in the next edition of the publication with a clear indication that the data has been changed in relation to the previously published.

Not applicable

The timeliness and punctuality of the actions undertaken by and between the Statistics Poland and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is governed by the Statistical Survey Programme of Official Statistics for 2019. It stipulates the deadline and the place of data provision by reporting entities, the deadline for the provision of collective data in natural units (litre, kg) by Statistics Poland to MARD, and the deadline for the provision of result tables of sales of plant protection products, converted into active substances, by MARD to Statistics Poland. Furthermore, the issues of submitting and compiling reports based on the G-04 questionnaire between Statistics Poland and regional statistical office in Olsztyn are subject to the data processing timetable developed by the Survey Programming and Coordination Department. The data collection application is being prepared by IT Center (CIS) Radom. The activities of this unit are also included in the schedule

• According to the Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009, the data is published by Eurostat 15 months after the end of the reference year and the national quality report 20 months after the end of the reference year. Only final data are reported to Eurostat.
• At national level, preliminary data (in commodity mass) are usually published around 3 months after the end of data collection proccess, while deadline for final data converted into active substances is depended on term of  data recalculatioms by IPP NRI and approval by MARD, as well as on publication schedule

• At national level, the data on PPPs sale in natural units (in commodity mass), broken down into main groups are disseminated as first results. They are published around 3 months after end of data collection proccess (depending on the publication schedule). These are different numbers than those reported to Eurostat. In publication they are visible with the note "preliminary data". Preliminary data for 2019 were published 06 of JUly, 2020 - 6 months from the end of reference year.
• Not applicable at European level as the data and national quality reports for pesticide sales statistics are only published once in a final results.

• At national level the final data on amount of PPP converted into active substances are published at deadline  depended on term of  data recalculatioms by IPP NRI and approval by MARD, as well as on publication schedule. The final data for 2019 were published on 26 March 2021, mainly due to the time shift in relation to publication schedule
• The provision of data to Eurostat was made in a timely manner. At Eurostat level the deadlines are as below:
  •  15 months after the end of the reference period for the data;
  •  20 months after the end of the reference period for the national quality report.

According to the Regulation (EC) No 1185/2009, data must be transmitted until 30 December of the year t+1, and national quality reports until 31 March of the year t+2.

Data is submitted in a timely manner.

Non applicable.

See sub-concepts below.

Data are collected on a country level (NUTS 0). They are not comparable on a regional level. The geographical comparability between countries is evaluated by Eurostat.

Not applicable, because there are no mirror flows in pesticide sales statistics.

Until 2004 not complete set of PPPs permitted to turnover and usage was covered by statistical surveys of sales of PPPs. There had been surveyed only set of most frequent used ppp.The list of PPPs was established every year by MARD in consultation with Main Inspectorate of Plant Health and Seed Inspection; the choice was motivated by economic meaning and by value of sales. In 2003 statistical surveys covered the sales of 357 products and in 2004 - 321 products.  Since 2005 all plant protection products allowed for using and trading in Poland are surveyed. In 2019 it was 2411 PPPs.

180 month or 15 years (2005-2019)

Comparability of variables from the sale and consumption of PPPs statistics in the range:
- the method of converting the sales/consumption of PPPs from natural units into active substances,
- aggregation of data by Harmonised Classification of Substances.

Not applicable for pesticide sales statistics, because the data collection is annual.

Not applicable, because it is not related to national accounts.

Not applicable

See sub-concepts below.

No news release

The Statistics Poland publications present the sales of PPPs at various aggregate levels by trading volume and active substance. They also include data-related remarks and a short survey methodology. The paper Statistics Poland publications are available for a fee while their electronic versions can be accessed free of charge:

Agriculture in 2019:  https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/rolnictwo-lesnictwo/rolnictwo/rolnictwo-w-2019-roku,3,16.html - (In the archive tab, you will find old publications from years 2003-2018)

Statistical yearbook of agriculture 2019: https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/roczniki-statystyczne/rocznik-statystyczny-rolnictwa-2019,6,13.html - (In the archive tab, you will find old publications from years 2007-2017)

Means of production in agriculture in the 2018/19 farming year: https://stat.gov.pl/obszary-tematyczne/rolnictwo-lesnictwo/rolnictwo/srodki-produkcji-w-rolnictwie-w-roku-gospodarczym-20182019,6,16.html -  (In the archive tab, you will find old publications from years 2002-2017)

Currently the online database on the Ministry website is no longer available.

Not applicable

In principle micro-data (amount of PPPs placed on market by individual permit holder) are not also disseminated. Data converted into each active substances  (in accordance with Annex III to 1185/2009) are also not published. Only some aggregations of active substances (main groups and categories) are published annually. However, for scientific purposes, individual quantities of each active substance are accessible on demand (if not confidential). On request, we can also provide non-standard aggregations of active substances for scientific purposes (if they are not classified as confidential). In order to find information on data from specified year, user should submit request to Education and Communication Department of Statistics Poland or directly to Agriculture Department. Requests should be made via an electronic email (Sekretariat-DR@stat.gov.pl) or  by official paper or data ordering form available on Statistics Poland website https://stat.gov.pl/en/questions-and-orders/data-request-form/.

No other documents

I. The list of PPPs: The list of PPPs is established using the database referred to as “The register of authorized PPPs on the market and use”, kept by MARD. It comprises all PPPs which have been admitted to marketing and use. While establishing the list, the following items from the database were taken into consideration: whether a given PPP is included in the updated register, the product authorisation date and the date of authorisation for the products which have been withdrawn from the market.
II. Until 2017 the list of producers and importers (the survey file) was in force: It was established using the information included in the database referred to as “The register of authorized PPPs on the market and use” and other information available to MARD, regarding the entities dealing with the placing of PPPs on the market. The list of producers and importers was limited to enterprises marketing only such products that could be sold in the surveyed year. The list of entities was created based on information on conducting such activities in previous years, was updated with the list of entities which obtained new MARD permits and suplemented with information from the Foreign Trade Database was also used about units that showed export or import of PPPs - code 3808 of the  CN (The Combined Nomenclature). The list included only entities from the Statistics Poland Database - having Polish REGON (id of economic activity). From 2018 report G-04 is fulfilled exclusively by a natural or legal person authorized to place a PPPs on the market (manufacturer, importer, manufacturer's or importer's representative), introducing the PPP for the needs of agriculture in the country. 

Register of plant protection products  operated by MARD is in force (see current list under the link https://www.gov.pl/web/rolnictwo/rejestr-rodkow-ochrony-roslin)

This register contains 2 sheets: register of plant protection products and list of entities placing PPP on the market with the permit number (producers and authorizations holders)

III. The method of converting the sales of plant protection products from natural units into active substances: The list of sales of plant protection products in natural units, established by Statistics Poland in Excel format, provides the source data. The said list is imported to the SQL Server database in IPP – NRI. The conversion into active substances entails calculating the content of active substances in each preparation and then multiplying the sales value or the preparation stock by the obtained content index. The resultant values are then aggregated by active substance. The index reflecting the active substance content in a given preparation is calculated as follows:

1) If the active substance content is in gram per 1 litre of the preparation, the formula is:         

wzsa = zsagl [g/l] / 1000

2) If the active substance content is in gram per 1 kilograme of the preparation, the formula is:     

wzsa = zsagkg [g/kg] / 1000

3) If the active substance content is given as percent of the preparation mass, the formula is:    If in this case the natural unit corresponds to litres, the sales value is additionally multiplied by the plant production product density.  

wzsa = zsa [%] / 100

wzsa – the index of the active substance content in the preparation;         

zsagl – the active substance content per 1 litre of the preparation in gram;

zsagkg – the active substance content per 1 kilogram of the preparation in gram;     

zsa – the active substance content in the preparation.

Quality control is carried out on an ongoing basis during the reporting by the rapporteurs by the means of verification process in logical and accounting terms. Next step is creation of control tables. Analysis of correctness of data is based on a comparison of the volume of sales of each pesticides compared to the previous year.

In G-04 it is possible for the reporting unit to add PPPs on which they had not authorization but nonetheless sold them in reporting year (so-called alien PPPs). This approach serves to conduct anylysis to complement the survey and improve quality. The Statistical Office employee determines who is the actual holder of a permit for a measure reported as "alien" by another unit. Cases of data duplication are analyzed. Account shall be taken of cases where the authorization holder and distributor show identical quantities of the PPPs and where the authorization holder and distributor indicate significantly different amounts of specified PPP; this may result from entities' stocks and from transfers between companies or PPPs acquisitions. In 2019, 76 potentially duplicate items were clarified. Often, the distributor provides us with sales data on PPP which authorization holders are often unable to provide to us.

Taking into account findings after 2018 survey, to improve quality of the survey in the 2019, a form modification will be introduced to enable the settlement of stocks from the previous reporting period and the consideration of sale from stocks. In addition, the PPPs register kept by MARD will be updated and improved, including:

• validity of permits with reference to the period of consumption of existing stocks;
• completeness and topicality of the authorized entities;
• unifying the record of the entity's name, registered office and address, irrespective of when the decision was issued;
• checking the correctness of the names of PPPs;
• providing information on the name change of the PPPs;
• in the case of adding new PPPs - providing information on the type of PPPs, unit of measure.

Additionally on Statistics Poland Reporting Portal:

• personalization of G04 form in accordance with currently held permits will be maintained
• the option to delete personalized rows will be blocked

While preparing for the 2019 survey, the list of PPPs and entities sent by the MARD required additional work. Additional ordering was made, consisting of:

• the removal of 30 duplicate numbers of authorizations for placing a PPPs on the market;
• the correction of 15 names of PPPs (typo, decision to change the name);
• the unification in 3 entities - the entries regarding the name, seat and address of the entity that obtained the permit;
• adding REGON fields, item code, measurement unit necessary to personalize reporting forms.

Not requested.

Not requested.

Labour input in the Department of Agriculture amounted to ap.1104 hours. The time spent by the staff of the regional statistical office in Olsztyn on gathering and compiling data amounted to 329 hours. The respondent burden, i.e. the time spent on preparing the questionnaire data, amounted to 209 hours (78 minutes * 161 units = 209 hours) while the time spent on filling in the questionnaires reached 118 hours (44 minutes * 161 units = 118 hours).Institute of Plant Protection in the Multi-Year Programme IPP-NRI for 2016-2020 leads work on the calculations, data aggregation, operation and maintenance of databases. The annual cost of these tests is about 45 thousand PLN. Please note that this amount is estimated. The cost of the administrative respondent burdens totalled PLN 9688,20. The burden calculations were made on the basis of an average monthly wage and salary in the national economy (according to the announcement of President of the Statistics Poland of February 11, 2020 on the average remuneration in the national economy in 2019). 

See sub-concepts below.

The Statistics Poland confidentiality policy is governed by the Law of 29 June 1995 on Official Statistics (Journal of Laws No. 88, Item 439, with later amendment) and by the Internal Regulation No.12 of the Statistics Poland President of 2 April 2014 – the Principles of Statistical Data Processing. The notion of statistical confidentiality is defined in the Law of 29 June 1995 on Official Statistics (Journal of Laws No. 88, Item 439, with later amendment) and, in particular, in Article 10 thereof which stipulates that “The individual and personal data collected and gathered in the statistical surveys of official statistics shall be confidential and subject to particular protection; the data shall be used exclusively for statistical calculations, compilations and analyses, and for the creation by the statistical services of official statistics sampling frames for statistical surveys conducted by those services; provision or use of individual and personal data for other purposes than specified above shall be prohibited”. Article 12 of the said Law also refers to statistical confidentiality. It provides a detailed list of staff members of the official statistical services. Having direct access to individual and personal data, they shall be obliged to observe statistical confidentiality without exceptions. They may be allowed to perform statistical activities only after delivering an oath in a written form in a statistical office. The content of the oath, as included in the final paragraph of Article 12, is as follows:
“I promise that I will carry out my tasks on behalf of the official statistics dutifully, in accordance with the professional ethics of a statistician and that I shall keep secret from third parties the individual data known to me while performing those tasks”.

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