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.
Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) provide an aggregate overview, in thousand tonnes per year, of the material flows into and out of an economy. EW-MFA cover solid, gaseous, and liquid materials, except for bulk flows of water and air. Like the system of national accounts, EW-MFA constitute a multi-purpose information system. The detailed material flows provide a rich empirical database for numerous analytical purposes. Further, EW-MFA are used to derive various material flow indicators.
The National Statistical Institute (NSI) sent to Eurostat on yearly basis the EW-MFA. The accounts comprise the following reporting tables:
Table A 'Domestic extraction (DE)': records material flows from the environment into the economy in a detailed breakdown by type of material
Table B 'Imports - total imports (intra- and extra-EU) and Table D 'Exports – total exports (intra- and extra-EU)': These physical trade tables record the imports and exports of products in thousand tonnes and grouped by materials.
Table F 'Domestic processed output (DPO)': records material flows from the economy to the domestic environment (e.g. emissions to air, water and soil)
Table G 'Balancing items': reports some memorandum items which are necessary to have the full material balance related to a national economy
Table H 'Indicators': presents the EW-MFA derived indicators which are automatically calculated from Table A to G
Table I 'Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME)': records material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (MFA-RME). Some items are calculated automatically based on data reported in Table A and Table I
3.2. Classification system
EW-MFA record physical flows of materials broken down by type of flow and by type of material.
The type of flow dimension corresponds to the EW-MFA questionnaire reporting tables and derived indicators, namely:
domestic extraction (Table A)
physical imports (Table B)
physical exports (Table D)
domestic processed output (Table F)
balancing items (Table G)
direct material input (indicator)
domestic material consumption (indicator)
physical trade balance (indicator)
The breakdown by type of material employs a classification of materials. This EW-MFA classification of materials is hierarchical with main material flow categories (1-digit level). Each main category is further broken down, maximal down to 4-digit-level:
1-digit: material category;
2-digit: material class;
3-digit: material group;
4-digit: material sub-group.
3.3. Coverage - sector
The data refer to national economies as defined in the system of national accounts.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Conceptually economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) belong to the international system of environmental economic accounting (SEEA-Central Framework). Furthermore, EW-MFA is one of several physical modules of Eurostat's programme on European environmental economic accounts. It is covered by Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.
EW-MFA are closely related to concepts and definitions of national accounts. Most notably they follow the residence principle, i.e. they record material flows related to resident unit's activities, regardless where those occur geographically.
Further methodological guidelines are provided in various publications by Eurostat (see Eurostat website > Environment > Methodology, heading: 'Material flows and resource productivity').
For more detailed information please see also 3.1.
3.5. Statistical unit
Statistical units change according to the different data sources (e.g. agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics, production statistics, geological surveys, energy statistics, foreign trade statistics etc.) which EW-MFA are based on.
3.6. Statistical population
EW-MFA refer to the entire national economy of the reporting country (see also 3.3 'Coverage - sector')).
EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary (between the environment and the economy) on the input side or on the output side. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units).
Material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW).
Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the ROW. Information on natural resources extracted and traded products is provided by different statistical units.
3.7. Reference area
Czech Republic
3.8. Coverage - Time
Please see the table in 3.8.1.
3.8.1. Coverage – Time: by questionnaire table
Questionnaire table
From (YEAR)
To (YEAR)
Comments
Domestic extraction (Table A)
1990
2023
Imports – Total trade (Table B)
1993
2023
Exports – Total trade (Table D)
1993
2023
Domestic processed output (Table F)
No data
Balancing items (Table G)
No data
Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME) (Table I)
2008
2022
3.9. Base period
Not applicable because EW-MFA are not reported as indices.
The unit of measure is thousand tonnes.
The data refer to the calendar years. First reference year was 2011. In the first data transmission, annual data from 2008 to the first reference year were included. In each subsequent data transmission annual data for the years n-4, n-3, n-2, n-1 and n, where n is reference year, are transmitted.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) are legally covered by Regulation (EU) 691/2011 on European Environmental Economic Accounts.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable on national level, this information is required at European level only.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidential data are protected under the Act on Statistical State Service in the Czech Republic.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
General rules for non confidential data: an aggregation of 3 or more entities, the share of the highest value does not exceed 85% of the total. Confidential data are not disseminated nationally, confidential data under the Regulation (EU) 691/2011 on European Environmental Economic Accounts are reported to Eurostat with the confidentiality flag.
8.1. Release calendar
Publication on material flows accounts is released yearly on the CZSO web site on 15.1. (by release calendar) and shortened version of the accounts is published in environmental accounts section later (no release calendar).
Publication is released according to Catalogue of products, which is publicly available. Shortened version is publicated as soon as possible after the Eurostat validation of all transmitted environmental accounts.
See concept 8.1
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Ad-hoc release
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Regular release
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
No online database
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable
10.5. Dissemination format - other
No applicable
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Short methodological documentation is in the publication.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable
11.1. Quality assurance
No validation rules and other plausibility checks for the outputs except these in Eurostat questionnaire
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Initial data are regular statistical outputs from agricultural, foreign trade and mining statistics.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
International organisations: EUROSTAT, UN
Scientific institutes and universities: Charles University Environment Centre in Prague
Government bodies: Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of the Environment
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable
12.3. Completeness
All mandatory data items are reported.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Please use Annex 3 for providing an assessment of the overall quality of the reported data.
Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
National production time is 12,5 months, data are published nationally in time T+12,5 months, early estimates are not compiled.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
12,5 months
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
12,5 months
14.2. Punctuality
All releases are delivered on time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data on EW-MFA are compiled according to harmonised guidelines provided by Eurostat and hence comparable across European countries reporting EW-MFA data to Eurostat.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable because physical imports and exports as recorded in EW-MFA are not specified by origin and/or destination.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Please see the table in 15.2.1.1.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
15.2.1.1. Comparability - over time detailed
Please use below table for explaining b)-flags (breaks in time series):
Year (of the break in series)
Questionnaire table(s)
MF-code(s)
Reason for' break in time series'
2015
D
MF.4.2.2
Updating the method of estimating natural gas exports and imports
Data on imports and exports of natural gas newly established using gas balance information in the quantity units obtained from the energy statistics, specifically from the energy balance of the Czech Republic.
2015
D
MF.4.2
Consequence of updating the method of estimating natural gas exports and imports
2017
A
MF.1.2.2.1.
The new coefficient was used for the calculation of fodder crops to EU standard humidity.
2018
B
MF.4.2.3.3.
The new method and database OECD was used for estimation of fuel bunkered by resident abroad for air transport : https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=AIRTRANS_CO2
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
MFA data are in conformity with other data sources or statistical domains - agriculture, forestry, foreign trade, minimg statistics.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
MFA data folow residence principle in conformity with National Accounts principles.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable.
No direct response burden, compiling MFA is based exclusively on analytical work, data are taken from statistics - agricultural, forestry, mining, foreign trade
0,7 full-time equivalents of work are required to compile the MFA data at the CZSO.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There is no revision policy for compilation of MFA data except data on residence principle (item MF 4.2.3. and all its subitems) for tables Export D and Import B.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Every year revision: Data on residents principle item MF 4.2.3. and all its subitems, Tables B,D are in time data collection (T+16) preliminary (data from the previous data collection are used), in time T+28 months these data are fully coherent with PEFA and are definitive.
New data source from 2018: Revisions have been made for international air transport operated by resident units (item MF 4.2.3.3. Table B) in connection with using a new source for our estimation method for air transport. The OECD data (https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=AIRTRANS_CO2#) were used for data from 2018.
New coefficients from 2017: For item MF.1.2.2.1 Fodder crops (including biomass harvest from grassland) were used the new coefficients from AgriStat for data from 2017..
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
18.1. Source data
Data sources are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 (and Annex) and 18.1.2.
18.1.1. Source data - Table A, B, D, F and G
Please use Annex 1 to report the detailed data sources for questionnaire tables A, B, D, F and G.
The Eurostat´s country RME tool was used to compile Table I, no specific alternations were used.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Data are compiled annually.
18.3. Data collection
Not applicable.
18.4. Data validation
Data for MFA compilation are taken from statistics, DEU - biomass from agricultural and forestry CZSO statistics, minerals, metals and fossil energy carriers from Ministry od Industry and Trade statistics.
Import/Export are taken from CZSO database on international trade.
18.5. Data compilation
No specific observation for compilation of MFA, data are from many sources:
18.5.3. Adjustment used of correspondence table for Tables B and D
Foreign trade is recorded in kg for the whole time period (since 2011 even in grams), no conversion factors were used except CN code 9950000 – small packages (MF5) and CN codes 9880XXXX – industrial units.
The invoiced price of small packages is not higher than 200 EUR and due to not increase the burden on respondents their weight is not reported.
An industrial unit is a combination of machines, apparatus, equipment, equipment and materials that together form large permanent units producing goods or providing services (eg complete production lines, construction of entire manufacturing plants or hotels) and falls into the category of specific goods for which there is no weight reporting required.
The weight of small packages and investment units was estimated on the base of invoiced price in cooperation with experts from the foreign trade department.
18.5.4. Adjustment used of conversion factors for Tables B and D
No conversion factors from EW_MFA Questionnaire are used.
18.5.5. Fuel trade, residence adjustment
Resident adjustment is compiled in compliance with energy accounts.
18.5.6. Significant problems
No significant problems.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable; i.e. in EW-MFA no time series adjustment necessary.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
No comments
Economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) provide an aggregate overview, in thousand tonnes per year, of the material flows into and out of an economy. EW-MFA cover solid, gaseous, and liquid materials, except for bulk flows of water and air. Like the system of national accounts, EW-MFA constitute a multi-purpose information system. The detailed material flows provide a rich empirical database for numerous analytical purposes. Further, EW-MFA are used to derive various material flow indicators.
The National Statistical Institute (NSI) sent to Eurostat on yearly basis the EW-MFA. The accounts comprise the following reporting tables:
Table A 'Domestic extraction (DE)': records material flows from the environment into the economy in a detailed breakdown by type of material
Table B 'Imports - total imports (intra- and extra-EU) and Table D 'Exports – total exports (intra- and extra-EU)': These physical trade tables record the imports and exports of products in thousand tonnes and grouped by materials.
Table F 'Domestic processed output (DPO)': records material flows from the economy to the domestic environment (e.g. emissions to air, water and soil)
Table G 'Balancing items': reports some memorandum items which are necessary to have the full material balance related to a national economy
Table H 'Indicators': presents the EW-MFA derived indicators which are automatically calculated from Table A to G
Table I 'Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME)': records material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (MFA-RME). Some items are calculated automatically based on data reported in Table A and Table I
25 April 2025
Conceptually economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) belong to the international system of environmental economic accounting (SEEA-Central Framework). Furthermore, EW-MFA is one of several physical modules of Eurostat's programme on European environmental economic accounts. It is covered by Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.
EW-MFA are closely related to concepts and definitions of national accounts. Most notably they follow the residence principle, i.e. they record material flows related to resident unit's activities, regardless where those occur geographically.
Further methodological guidelines are provided in various publications by Eurostat (see Eurostat website > Environment > Methodology, heading: 'Material flows and resource productivity').
For more detailed information please see also 3.1.
Statistical units change according to the different data sources (e.g. agriculture, forestry and fishery statistics, production statistics, geological surveys, energy statistics, foreign trade statistics etc.) which EW-MFA are based on.
EW-MFA refer to the entire national economy of the reporting country (see also 3.3 'Coverage - sector')).
EW-MFA include all materials (excluding water and air) crossing the system boundary (between the environment and the economy) on the input side or on the output side. The economy is demarcated by the conventions of the national accounting system (resident units).
Material inputs to the economy cover extractions of natural resources (excluding water and air) from the natural environment and imports of material products (goods) from the rest of the world economy (ROW).
Material outputs are disposals of materials to the natural environment and exports of material products and waste to the ROW. Information on natural resources extracted and traded products is provided by different statistical units.
Czech Republic
The data refer to the calendar years. First reference year was 2011. In the first data transmission, annual data from 2008 to the first reference year were included. In each subsequent data transmission annual data for the years n-4, n-3, n-2, n-1 and n, where n is reference year, are transmitted.
Please use Annex 3 for providing an assessment of the overall quality of the reported data.
No specific observation for compilation of MFA, data are from many sources:
agriculture statistics.
forestry statistics.
foreign trade statistics.
PEFA data.
Data sources are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 (and Annex) and 18.1.2.
See concept 8.1
National production time is 12,5 months, data are published nationally in time T+12,5 months, early estimates are not compiled.
Data on EW-MFA are compiled according to harmonised guidelines provided by Eurostat and hence comparable across European countries reporting EW-MFA data to Eurostat.
