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
The french economic territory, classically used in the national accounts.
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)
1990
2024
2024 data will be revised next year
Exports – Total trade (Table D)
1990
2024
2024 data will be revised next year
Domestic processed output (Table F)
2000
2022
Balancing items (Table G)
Eurostat estimates
Eurostat estimates
Material flow accounts in raw material equivalents (RME) (Table I)
2008
2022
Data calculated using Eurostat RME tool.
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.
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 in national level this information is required at European level only.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Statistical secrecy is defined by french law n° 51-711 of 7 June 1951
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Law relating to statistical confidentiality in France
8.1. Release calendar
MFA statistics are published each year on the websites of the Data and Statistical Studies Department. We do not have a release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calendar is not published on our website.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Data are published on the website of the statistical service. These data are publicly available to all Internet users.
Data are disseminated annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
There is no news releases related to MFA.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The data can be downloaded from the internet. The files are in excel format. There are no restrictions on their use.
Articles (from two to four pages) accompanies the data, with updated comments, are available on the website: notre-environnement.gouv.fr
Data online is available in a more agregate format than the detailed level of the MFA questionnaire, but it can be sent to searchers if particular demand.
Quality related documents are not available online.
The Data & Statistical Studies Department belongs to the SSP (Public Statistical Service) wich includes the SSM (ministerial statistical services) and the french NSI (INSEE).
Created in 2008, the ASP (public statistic autority) brings the garanty to respect the profesional independance, with principles such as objectivity, impartiality, pertinence and quality of the data produced. The Data & Statistical Studies Department is regularly audited by the ASP, as every SSM.
The questionnaire provides many checks to validate tables filled with all the data collected : the data sources are obtained from statistical services, in particular from surveys made by the ministries of Agriculture (biomass data), Economy - INSEE (metal & minerals), Environment (fossil energy)... Their practices include validation at their level, so using their data brings a garanty assurance for quality.
To analyse the coherence of the annual evolutions of quantities (for all items of the MFA classification) we read the studies made by all the SSM concerned : agriculture, extracting sectors,..or by professionnal syndicates. It helps to understand (and validate) variations, explained for instance by the weather (agriculture) or the construction crisis (minerals)...
11.2. Quality management - assessment
As seen before, the overall quality results from the quality of each national contributor, from the level of the french SSM concerned to our NSI (INSEE).
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users need the data (mainly at agregate level) to follow series of indicators (DE, trade, DMC, productivity...) : they are mainly institutionnals users (INSEE, Cerema, ..)
Some other users (searchers, students..) often use directly the Eurostat Database because they find more recent data.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No measurement, but contact is easy with the Department, always answering the more completly and rapidly possible.
12.3. Completeness
All data are available
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
Usually we begin collecting data in february-march , some data are not available before april (EAP, metals and minerals from INSEE).
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
We depend on the data (metal and minerals given by the annual survey EAP from INSEE) not available before April. This year we sent the estimated data on the 23 of April, some modification may come in the following months.
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 the table below to explain b)-flags (breaks in time series):
Year (of the break in series)
Questionnaire table(s)
MF-code(s)
Reason for 'break in time series'
2009
A
MF.2 and MF.3
For the first time in 2011, the only data source used to collect the 2009 figures became the EAP (Annual Production Survey, provided by our NSI, INSEE). Previously, some data came from Unicem (a professional syndicate for extracting firms). The PRODFRA classification of the EAP allowed filling data for the PRODCOM classification.
2018
A
MF.3.8
For this item, only the last few years are updated using the last prodcom classification.
2018
A
MF.1.3
Data was revised from 2018 to 2023.
2000
A
MF.1.4
The series from the source (Eurostat, fish statistics) starts in 2000.
2004
B and D
All except MF.4.2.3
Data was recalculated using the latest Eurostat Annex from 2004 to 2024.
2008
B and D
MF.4.2.3
The source is only available from 2008 to 2022.
2009
F
MF.7.4.5
Data was recalculated from 2009 to 2022 by the source.
2008
F
MF.7.1
The source is only available from 2008 to 2022.
2010
F
MF.7.2
The series from the source (Eurostat) starts in 2010.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
no particular checking
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable; reported EW-MFA data are only annual.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
No incoherence known with NA, INSEE calculating and using financial data more than physical quantities.
If needed, imports and exports (quantities & values) are used from the official Finance ministry source (Douanes = Customs).
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data are internally consistent
In the PAT (annual work program) the MFA reporting task is estimated as 35 days and related articles updating as 15 days...
No financial estimation costs because data collection is mainly linked with other Statistical Ministry Services (free exchanges of data).
Internal Service is in charge of publications on the website (we don't use no more paper issues)
17.1. Data revision - policy
The statistical service of the Ministry publishes its methodological review policy on its website
INSEE can publish revisions (data, methodology...)
17.2. Data revision - practice
The entire serie is revised each year.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT.
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) 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.
RME tool is used. This table have not been updated yet due to lack of time.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual collection
18.3. Data collection
As already seen before, every year the data collection is launched for
biomass data : comes from the ministry of Agriculture statistical service (Agreste) and from FAO
Metals & minerals : data from INSEE (EAP : annual production survey)
fossil energy materials : from Database Pegase (Ministry of environment)
(We don't analyse the methods/questionnaires used by these statistical services)
18.4. Data validation
The questionnaire is checked before sending, but before this, we validate the coherence of figures evolutions by articles or studies (by SSM, professional syndicates...) commenting the conjonctural evolutions (agriculture, construction...)
18.5. Data compilation
Data we use is given by producers such as INSEE and Statstical Services of other ministries, that validate their surveys.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.5.2. Estimation approaches for specific items
Please use Annex 2 to describe estimation approaches for specific items.
Not necessary : statistical data exist,
we have statistical sources giving the information needed : detailed quantities extracted in biomass (from ministry of agriculture statistical service), in metals & minerals (EAP survey by INSEE), no need to estimate.
18.5.3. Adjustment used of correspondence table for Tables B and D
Eurostat correspondence tables are used.
18.5.4. Adjustment used of conversion factors for Tables B and D
We don't use the conversion factors.
18.5.5. Fuel trade, residence adjustment
We use coefficients to convert the consumption (Ktep) into Ktonnes for fuels (motor gasoline, liquefied petroleum gases, natural gas liquid kerozen,...) :
Manuel Baude (in care of AEA) provides the corresponding annual series (for resident units abroad and for resident units domestically) about transports by land, water and air.
We obtain the total annual consumption for the two categories and their three ways of transports : it fills the MF.4.2.3 lines in the Tables B and D (and are included in the calculation for Table I).
18.5.6. Significant problems
No significant problems for France, because we have quality data sources : from validated national surveys,vith coherent, accurate and reliable series...
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable; i.e. in EW-MFA no time series adjustment necessary.
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
24 April 2024
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.
The french economic territory, classically used in the national accounts.
The data refer to the calendar years.
Please use Annex 3 for providing an assessment of the overall quality of the reported data.
Data we use is given by producers such as INSEE and Statstical Services of other ministries, that validate their surveys.
Data sources used to produce economy-wide material flow accounts are described in the sub-concepts 18.1.1 (and Annex) and 18.1.2.
Data are disseminated annually.
Usually we begin collecting data in february-march , some data are not available before april (EAP, metals and minerals from INSEE).
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.
