Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
For the statistics related to the eggs produced for human consumption, we rely on the administrative data collected directly by the Veterinary Regulation Directorate (VRD) within the Animal Health and Welfare Department. Since in Malta, we have a small number of layer farms, all of them are taken into consideration for the calculation of the eggs produced.
The main characteristic is the number of laying hens together with the amount of egg production for human consumption.
3.1.1. The main data source of the information
Eggs producers
3.2. Classification system
IFS classification.
3.3. Coverage - sector
NACE 01.47.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Eggs for consumption are fresh eggs of fowls of the species Gallus Gallus intended for human consumption (i.e. not intended for incubation), in shell. They are fit for direct human consumption or for preparation of egg products (B class).
3.4.1. Definition of eggs for consumption under EU methodology
Yes
3.4.2. If not, specify the definition used.
Not applicable.
3.4.3. Definition of egg producer under EU methodology
Yes
3.4.4. If not, specify the definition used
Not applicable.
3.4.5. Definition of laying hens under EU methodology
Yes
3.4.6. If not, please describe the differences
Not applicable.
3.4.7. Definition of ungraded eggs under EU methodology
Not relevant
3.4.8. If not, specify the definition used
Not applicable.
3.4.9. Ungraded Eggs provided separately
Not relevant
3.4.10. Additional comments on statistical concepts and definitions
No additional comments.
3.5. Statistical unit
An agricultural holding with laying hens.
3.6. Statistical population
The total number of farmers having at least 350 laying hens and less than 5,000 laying hens amounted to 7 holdings.
The total number of farmers having 5,000 or more laying hens amounted to 16 holdings.
3.6.1. Physical, economical or other threshold(s) applied to the data collection
This is according to the ESS agreement.
3.6.1.1. COVERAGE
100%
3.7. Reference area
The data covers all the area of Malta.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2008 onwards.
3.8.1. The first survey/data collection
2014.
3.9. Base period
2014.
3.10. Other comments
Not applicable.
4.1. Unit of measure in million
Yes
4.2. Other unit of measures used
Not applicable.
5.1. Reference period in calendar year based
Yes
5.2. Reference date for number of laying hens
31st December.
5.3. Additional comments on the reference period/date used
No further comments.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The National Statistics Office has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Veterinary Regulation Directorate in order to provide data on the number of farms having layers and also the number of layers.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
No publications.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
The data is not yet published but it is available when a person requests such data.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not available.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
11.1. Quality assurance
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The data collected on the number of laying hens is used as a source for the FADN survey.
12.1.1. Data collected for national purposes
The data collected on the number of laying hens is used as a source for the FADN survey.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
12.3. Completeness
All the data being requested in the ESS Agreement is collected and delivered to Eurostat.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Regarding the total number of laying hens, the data is complete and accurate since the administrative source from where the data is obtained has validations in place. For the number of eggs produced, there could be some errors since for such variable the data is estimated according to the data collected from the FADN survey.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
14.1. Timeliness
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Not relevant.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data is comparable from 2010 onwards.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Since we are using the administrative source as the basis for the data produced on eggs for consumption and related statistical data, there are not any significant differences.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
17.2. Data revision - practice
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
18.1. Source data
For the compilation of the statistics, we use the administrative register that is kept updated by the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Division. In Malta, all the eggs produced are for human consumption. A farm producer is obliged to keep records of the amount of laying hens bought, their age and also the data of culling together with the number culled. Such information is kept updated by the source for all the farms and will be used by their officials when they do controls on the farms during the year. There could be some farmers that do not inform the department when the laying hens are culled but to compensate for such cases, layers that are older than 3 years are not taken into consideration.
18.1.1. Description of data collection process
From the register kept by the respective Department, we calculate the average number of layers for each layer farm.
Then, from the annual FADN survey, we calculate the average amount of eggs produced.
Such amount is then multiplied to the total average number of layers.
For those years, that all the layer farms are included in the FADN survey, we just use the figures collected from such survey.
18.1.2. Model used as a breakdown based on individual information
Not relevant
18.1.3. Method used for the model
Not relevant.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
The data is collected from the administrative source on an annual basis.
18.3. Data collection
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
18.4. Data validation
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
18.5. Data compilation
18.5.1. Data compilation process - data weighting
Not relevant.
18.5.2. Data compilation process
Not relevant
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustment is made.
No further comments.
For the statistics related to the eggs produced for human consumption, we rely on the administrative data collected directly by the Veterinary Regulation Directorate (VRD) within the Animal Health and Welfare Department. Since in Malta, we have a small number of layer farms, all of them are taken into consideration for the calculation of the eggs produced.
The main characteristic is the number of laying hens together with the amount of egg production for human consumption.
31 May 2024
Eggs for consumption are fresh eggs of fowls of the species Gallus Gallus intended for human consumption (i.e. not intended for incubation), in shell. They are fit for direct human consumption or for preparation of egg products (B class).
An agricultural holding with laying hens.
The total number of farmers having at least 350 laying hens and less than 5,000 laying hens amounted to 7 holdings.
The total number of farmers having 5,000 or more laying hens amounted to 16 holdings.
The data covers all the area of Malta.
Regarding the total number of laying hens, the data is complete and accurate since the administrative source from where the data is obtained has validations in place. For the number of eggs produced, there could be some errors since for such variable the data is estimated according to the data collected from the FADN survey.
For the compilation of the statistics, we use the administrative register that is kept updated by the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Division. In Malta, all the eggs produced are for human consumption. A farm producer is obliged to keep records of the amount of laying hens bought, their age and also the data of culling together with the number culled. Such information is kept updated by the source for all the farms and will be used by their officials when they do controls on the farms during the year. There could be some farmers that do not inform the department when the laying hens are culled but to compensate for such cases, layers that are older than 3 years are not taken into consideration.
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
Not applicable (for the 2023 metadata collection).
