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. Material footprint indicators (RMC) are calculated based on country RME tool.
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 refers 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
Republic of Croatia
The reference area is the economic territory as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has a centre of economic interest in the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (1 year or more) in economic activities in that territory.
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)
2000
2023
Imports – Total trade (Table B)
2000
2023
Exports – Total trade (Table D)
2000
2023
Domestic processed output (Table F)
2000
2022
Balancing items (Table G)
2000
2022
Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME) (Table I)
2008
2023
Based on country RME tool
3.9. Base period
Not applicable because EW-MFA are not reported as indices.
The unit of measure is thousand Metric tonnes.
The annual production of natural gas by the PRODCOM survey for this query is converted from the unit of measure m3 to tonnes. The conversion factor is 0,83.
The data refer to the calendar years.
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.
This Regulation establishes a common framework for the collection, compilation, transmission and evaluation of European environmental economic accounts, for the purpose of setting up environmental economic accounts as satellite accounts to ESA 2010, by providing methodology, common standards, definitions, classifications and accounting rules intended to be used for compiling environmental economic accounts. This Regulation defines the data to be collected, compiled, transmitted and evaluated for material flow accounts. Those data need to be developed in a way that links material flows to economic production.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable in national level this information is required at European level only.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Law on Official Statistics (OG 25/20)
The Ordinance on the conditions and manner of use of confidential statistical data for scientific purposes (OG 137/2013)
Statistical data collected by surveys, according to the Law on Official Statistics (OG 25/20) is confidential and its purpose is restricted exclusively to statistical usage.
The results will be published in a cumulative form which prevents displaying data on individuals.
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 (L 87/164) stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are not published separately but only at the level of the Republic of Croatia.
8.1. Release calendar
04 April 2025, First Release OEN-2024-1-7 Economy-wide material flow accounts, 2019-2023
Release Calendar contains the review of publications planned to be issued in current year and by the end of May for next year, which depends on when the processing of a particular statistical survey can be finished and on whether it is feasible to make a particular kind of publication or not. All Calendars are publicly available.
According to the Release Date announced in the Publishing Programme and in the Calendar of Statistical Data Issues, publications of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics are released at 11:00 a.m. precisely, both in electronic format and hard copy, thus abiding by the Principle of Timeliness of the European Statistics Code of Practice, i.e. standard daily time set for the release.
The User Communication Department provides the following services to the users of statistical data:
Answering user requests.
The Croatian Bureau of Statistics provides to users the basic information on data that can be found on the Eurostat Internet site via the Eurostat portal – the European Statistical Data Support (ESDS) EUROSTAT.
Use of library holdings at the library premises.
Data are disseminated annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
29 May 2024. >> Environment >> Environmental economic accounts >> Material flow accounts >>
The conditions under which certain users can have access to microdata are regulated by The Ordinance on the conditions and manner of use of confidential statistical data for scientific purposes (OG 137/13).
10.5. Dissemination format - other
EUROSTAT database.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
The basic methodological explanations are published within the First Release and in the PC AXIS database (metadata and notes on methodology).
All relevant information are also available on the Eurostat website.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
100%
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The data on guality are stored in database on Quality information (DBQI), and reports on quality are prepared on the basis and will be updated on the CBS official website.
11.1. Quality assurance
The main tool for the systematic quality assessment and quality management is the database on quality information (DBQI). The DBQI has in first stage the Basic analytical tool for comparative analyses of quality indicators and later will contain Advanced analytical tool for comparative analyses of quality indicators.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Data is collected from reliable sources applying high standards regarding the methodology and ensuring a high degree of comparability.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
At national level EW-MFA and derived indicators are used by a wide range of national stakeholders such as ministries/agencies and other policy makers, university and non-university research institutes, interest groups, press and media. The indicators DMC and material productivity/efficiency ratios are used in national indicator sets for sustainable development.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The first user satisfaction survey of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics was conducted in 2013, the second one in 2015, and the last one at the end of 2022. The survey results can be checked on the website of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.
12.3. Completeness
The data are sent completely and in accordance with the relevant EU regulations.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable. To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Sources of data to compile EW-MFA are:
Agricultural statistics department (crop production, seawater/freshwater fisheries, hunting)
The data source for statistics on trading in goods with EU Member States is the Intrastat form, and for non-EU countries are Single Administrative Documents.
Very detailed data from external trade statistics classified by the Combined Nomenclature was used. Traded products to EW-MFA categories were assigned for imports and exports using Eurostat’s correspondence table (Annex 4). Also traded products to the three stages of manufacturing: raw products, semi-manufactured products, and finished products using Eurostat’s correspondence table (Annex 5) were assigned.
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
Croatia transmitted the data to Eurostat following the deadline stated by the Regulation.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
All data are always delivered in time based on the planned date of publication.
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 available.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data is comparable across the reported time-series. No breaks in the series are reported.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
For most EW-MFA tables data is comparable through the time series from 2008-2023.
The implementation of NKD 2007 led to the break in time series due to the changes in classification's structure. Therefore, data for period 2000-2006 are available according to NACE Rev.1. and due to recalculation for period 2005-2012 according NACE Rev.2.
The data on the export are shown by countries of destination, while since 1 July 2013, a new methodological criterion has been applied, by which data on the import are shown by countries. In Extrastat, data on the import are shown by countries of the origin of goods, while in Intrastat data on the arrivals of goods are presented by countries of dispatch.
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'
1990-1999
Table A
MF 1.3 Wood
Data for the period 1990-1999 are expressed in '000 m3
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data is coherent with other statistical data such as agricultural statistics (crop production), forestry and fishery statistics, hunting statistics, foreign trade statistics and industry statistics (PRODCOM data).
Data on EW-MFA is also coherent with other environmental accounts such as Air emission accounts (when reporting emissions to air), and PEFA tables.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
The accounting framework of EW-MFA is consistent with the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA-CF) adopted by the United Nations Statistical Commission as a world-level statistical standard in March 2012. EW-MFA are consistent with the European system of accounts (ESA) and hence suited to be combined with ESA aggregates.
15.4. Coherence - internal
CBS collects data according to the methodology of IND-22/PRODCOM/2023 and aligns them with Eurostat. In EW-MFA, the collected and processed data on industrial production in the Republic of Croatia/2023 are collected.
There are no additional costs related to the collection of data.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The users of statistical data are informed about revision (final data, revised data) at CBS web site.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data revisions are carried out in the case of a change in methodology or subsequent data that significantly impacts the calculation.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable. To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.
18.1. Source data
Data sources used to produce economy-wide material flow accounts are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 (and Annex 1) and 18.1.2.
18.1.1. Source data - Table A, B, D, F and G
Please see Annex 1 for the data sources for tables A, B, D, F and G.
The data source for statistics on trading in goods (Table B and D) with EU Member States is the Intrastat form used by the reporting units to report on arrivals and/or dispatches on a monthly basis, that is, for each month in which goods physically enter or leave the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The reporting units are all business entities, value added tax payers whose value of trading in goods with EU Member States exceeds the exemption threshold determined for the reference year. The data source for statistics on trading in goods with third countries, that is, non-EU countries, are Single Administrative Documents on the export and import of goods. The Croatian Bureau of Statistics receives the reviewed Single Administrative Documents from the Customs Administration of the Republic of Croatia in the form of data records. Following basic methodological recommendations of the UN Statistical Office and Eurostat, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics statistically processes and disseminates collected Intrastat and Extrastat data as unique information on foreign trade in goods of the Republic of Croatia.
Data are obtained from data sources in electronic form (via official intranet).
EW-MFA is a questionnaire that requires cooperation of various departments in the CBS, each department is responsible for their specific area.
The compilation of this data is done by the Environemtal statistics Unit that compiles the tables and calculates the remaining datasets.
18.4. Data validation
Quality control activities include general methods such as accuracy checks on data acquisition and calculations and the use of approved standardized procedures, measurements, estimating uncertainties, archiving information and reporting. Data is validated by EUROSTAT during the few phases of validation process.
There are no characteristic of the EW-MFA data for which we would consider that data quality is lower.
18.5. Data compilation
Data compilation for the EW-MFA is done through cooperation with various statistical departments in the CBS.
Following basic methodological recommendations of the UN Statistical Office and the Eurostat, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics statistically processes and disseminates collected Intrastat and Extrastat data as unique information on foreign trade in goods of the Republic of Croatia. Statistics on foreign trade in goods include all goods exported from or imported into the country. Data on foreign trade in goods include both export and import based on gross inward and outward processing.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.5.2. Estimation approaches for specific items
Annex 2 is provided.
For crops and residues we used harvest factors from Eurostat’s Compilation Guide 2018 for Economy-wide Material Flow Accounts (EW-MFA).
Data for industry are not estimated, data are obtained through survey based on PRODCOM.
18.5.3. Adjustment used of correspondence table for Tables B and D
CBS employ Annex 4 to assign traded goods to material categories.
18.5.4. Adjustment used of conversion factors for Tables B and D
No, CBS do not use conversion factors to convert traded goods into tonnes.
18.5.5. Fuel trade, residence adjustment
CBS do not undertake residence adjustment because there is no source for this data.
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 further comment.
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. Material footprint indicators (RMC) are calculated based on country RME tool.
14 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.
Republic of Croatia
The reference area is the economic territory as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has a centre of economic interest in the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (1 year or more) in economic activities in that territory.
The data refer to the calendar years.
Sources of data to compile EW-MFA are:
Agricultural statistics department (crop production, seawater/freshwater fisheries, hunting)
The data source for statistics on trading in goods with EU Member States is the Intrastat form, and for non-EU countries are Single Administrative Documents.
Very detailed data from external trade statistics classified by the Combined Nomenclature was used. Traded products to EW-MFA categories were assigned for imports and exports using Eurostat’s correspondence table (Annex 4). Also traded products to the three stages of manufacturing: raw products, semi-manufactured products, and finished products using Eurostat’s correspondence table (Annex 5) were assigned.
The annual production of natural gas by the PRODCOM survey for this query is converted from the unit of measure m3 to tonnes. The conversion factor is 0,83.
Data compilation for the EW-MFA is done through cooperation with various statistical departments in the CBS.
Following basic methodological recommendations of the UN Statistical Office and the Eurostat, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics statistically processes and disseminates collected Intrastat and Extrastat data as unique information on foreign trade in goods of the Republic of Croatia. Statistics on foreign trade in goods include all goods exported from or imported into the country. Data on foreign trade in goods include both export and import based on gross inward and outward processing.
Data sources used to produce economy-wide material flow accounts are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 (and Annex 1) and 18.1.2.
Data are disseminated annually.
Croatia transmitted the data to Eurostat following the deadline stated by the Regulation.
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.
Data is comparable across the reported time-series. No breaks in the series are reported.
