1. Contact

1.1 Contact organisation

Istat - Italian National Institute of Statistics

1.2 Contact organisation unit

ATC - Division for agricultural statistics and surveys

1.3 Contact name

Daniela Pagliuca

1.4 Contact person function

Senior Researcher Daniela Pagliuca, Division for agricultural statistics and surveys

1.5 Contact mail address

Viale Oceano Pacifico, 171 00144 Rome Italy

1.6 Contact email address

Process manager email: pagliuca@istat.it

1.7 Contact phone number

Process manager telephone: +390646733936

1.8 Contact fax number

2. Statistical presentation

2.1 Data description

The survey takes into consideration all enterprises which distribute pesticides in Italy, for each province, either under their own brand or foreign brands. The main variables surveyed are: quantity of pesticide product and quantity of the active substances (produced in Italy or imported) distributed with own trademark for only agricultural use, for each province. When the pesticides are imported, the enterprise can state the pesticides distributed with other trademark (if they haven’t their appropriate trademark).
The reference period is calendar year (2015).

The term pesticide indicates those products containing or comprised of substances intended for various uses, including protecting plants or plant products from harmful organisms, destroying unwanted plants or parts of plants. The term active substances refers to all substances which exert a general or specific action against harmful organisms or on plants or parts of them.

Phenomena investigated are: - sale of pesticides, per category (fungicide, insecticide and acaricides, herbicide, biological, other and insect traps), toxicity class and province (Nuts III level); - sale of the active substances authorised for the market.

Biological products and traps were introduced in the survey, in order to complete the survey

2.2 Classification system

Annex III of the Regulation 1185/2009 and revisions

2.3 Coverage - sector

chemical industry

2.4 Statistical concepts and definitions

geografic dsitribution of quantity sold

2.5 Statistical unit

Statistical units: Type of products and active substances contained in pesticides for each province (NUT3)

2.6 Statistical population

Reporting units: Enterprises which distribute pesticides with their own brand

2.7 Reference area

Italy - The whole national territory
(data required at NUTS 3 level)

2.8 Coverage - Time

The process is documented since: 1998

2.9 Base period

the year

3. Statistical processing

3.1 Source data

Pesticides for each enterprise which distribute pesticides in Italy for agricultural use, either under their own brand or foreign brands.

3.2 Frequency of data collection

Frequency is annual. Reference period is calendar year.

3.3 Data collection

Data collection:
Self-administered data collection - via electronic transmission through the upload of excel file on Istat web site (INDATA)

3.4 Data validation

Data are validated to the following actions:
Coherence control with data from other surveys or sources (the results are compared with similar results obtained in other processes of the Institute, or with data from external sources, for example specilized magazines)

3.5 Data compilation

Data compilation:

After the collection of the questionnaires, there is a first phase of check:
If it is possible, the questionnaires of an enterprise are compared with data of the previous year.
If an error occurs, the enetrprise is contacted by phone to confirm or not the new data.

The phase of editing data is done comparing data at level of each active substance. Imputation of missing value (total non response, or partial non resposonse) are carried out with metodological statistical model.

Manual error correction forcing wrong values on the base of deterministic rules
Manual error correction forcing wrong values on the base of preceeding correct data of the same survey.

3.6 Adjustment

Not applicable

4. Quality management

4.1 Quality assurance

Since the 90s Istat adopted a systematic approach to ensure quality in both statistical information and service to the community. For this purpose the Institute has defined a quality policy providing itself with appropriate tools as well as management changes to carry it out. Istat quality policy is coherent with the European framework developed by Eurostat, taking up its main principles and definitions. In 2005, the European Statistics Code of Practice (revised in 2011) established the principles to follow in order to ensure and strengthen both accountability and governance of the European Statistical System and the National Statistical Systems inside it. Essential points of Istat quality policy are: Process quality: consisting in the production of accurate statistical information efficiently and effectively; Product quality: consisting in the dissemination of high-quality timely statistical data which are relevant for the users, also the potential ones; Documentation: consisting in the storage and availability of information necessary not only for a proper use of data but also to ensure transparency in all the production activities of statistical data; Respect for respondents: consisting in the reduction of response burden and in the respect of respondent's privacy; Strengthening of statistical literacy: consisting in promoting a proper use of statistical information in policy-making to better support decisions and policies; Users' orientation: consisting in making statistical information easily accessible and understandable and in satisfying user needs as much as possible.
For details: http://www.istat.it/en/about-istat/quality

4.2 Quality management - assessment

Surveys on sales have been conducted in Istat for several years and the content is very detailed in terms of information on pesticides and in terms of territorial level covered.

In Italy, this is the only official source of data available, and it has been introduced in the National Statistical Programme. The positive aspect is that we collect data as a census, every year.

5. Relevance

The relevance is good

5.1 Relevance - User Needs

Main data users: Ministry of agriculture, Minitery of Heath, The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale): they use these data, for example, ISPRA draws up the national report on the presence of pesticides in water in order to regularly provide information on the water quality in relation to the risks of these substances.

5.2 Relevance - User Satisfaction

We don't have measures to determine user satisfaction

5.3 Completeness

not applicable

5.3.1 Data completeness - rate

not applicable

6. Accuracy and reliability

Quite satisfactory

6.1 Accuracy - overall

Quite satisfactory

6.2 Sampling error

Not applicalbe, this is not a sample survey

6.2.1 Sampling error - indicators

Not applicalbe

6.3 Non-sampling error

The survey adopts several quality control actions during the different stages of the process that allow to obtain reasonable levels of non-sampling errors.
Editing and imputation procedures are used to correct item nonresponse and measurement errors.

6.3.1 Coverage error

The list of enterprises for the Survey is managed by Istat (National Statistical Institute in Italy)

The out of scope rate and reasons for ineligibility are:

Tipology	Edition	Out of Scope Rate %	Non Existent Rate %	Change in Status Rate %	Out of Target Rate %
Main unweighted indicators	31/12/2015	8.54	3.66	4.88	0.00

6.3.1.1 Over-coverage - rate

ESS standard over coverage rate:
Main unweighted indicators
edition 31/12/2015 = 8,54%

6.3.1.2 Common units - proportion

Not applicable

6.3.2 Measurement error

Not availabe

6.3.3 Non response error

Available only for item non-response rate

6.3.3.1 Unit non-response - rate

ESS standard unit nonresponse rate:
Main unweighted indicators
edition 31/12/2015 = 21,33% alpha= 1.00

6.3.3.2 Item non-response - rate

For the variable "total quantity of pesticides" it is almost 0

6.3.4 Processing error

The phase of editing data is done comparing at level of each active substances; imputation of errors and missing value (unit non response or item non response) are carried out with methodological statistical model.

6.3.4.1 Imputation - rate

The imputation rate is:

Unit - Variable	Indicator	Edition	Net imputation rate (%)
Type of plant protection product - quantita' di prodotti fitosanitari	Unweighted	31/12/2015	0.00

6.3.5 Model assumption error

Not applicable

6.4 Seasonal adjustment

Not applicable

6.5 Data revision - policy

Not applicable

6.6 Data revision - practice

Not applicable

6.6.1 Data revision - average size

Not applicable

7. Timeliness and punctuality

7.1 Timeliness

Data are disseminated at national level Yearly

Timeliness - days 316

7.1.1 Time lag - first result

Not applicable, we don't produce first results

7.1.2 Time lag - final result

Timeliness is:
Edition 31/12/2015 = 316 days

7.2 Punctuality

Istat internal dissemination plan is achieved.

7.2.1 Punctuality - delivery and publication

0 days in Istat (0 because we don'y have any press release)

8. Coherence and comparability

8.1 Comparability - geographical

These data are the only data available in Italy, so it is impossible to compare

8.1.1 Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

Not available

8.2 Comparability - over time

the statistics are comparable since 1980

8.2.1 Length of comparable time series

Length of comparable time series:

Variable	Length	Note
-pesticides and traps -active substances in plant protection products	from 12/1997 to 12/2009

8.3 Coherence - cross domain

Other data sources are not available.

Istat data are available at NUTS3 level

8.4 Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

Not available

8.5 Coherence - National Accounts

Not applicable

8.6 Coherence - internal

Internal coherence is assured by means of controls during the processing phases.

9. Accessibility and clarity

9.1 Dissemination format - News release

La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari - Anno 2003(www3.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20050112_00) Statistiche in breveLa distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari - Anno 2004(www3.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20060105_00) Statistiche in breve
La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari - Anno 2005(www3.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20070215_00) Statistiche in breve
La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari. Anno 2008 - Anno 2008(http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/12028)
La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari - Anno 2007(www3.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20090212_00)
La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari - Anno 2006(www3.istat.it/salastampa/comunicati/non_calendario/20071214_00)
Distribution of plant protection products for agricultural use. Year 2009 - Anno 2009(http://www.istat.it/en/archive/12169)
La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari. Anno 2010 - Anno 2010(http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/44206)La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari. Anno 2011 - Anno 2011(http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/71698)
La distribuzione per uso agricolo dei prodotti fitosanitari. Anno 2012 - Anno 2012(http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/102280)

9.2 Dissemination format - Publications

Annuario statistico italiano 2007(2007), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20071212_00
Indicatori e conti ambientali: verso un sistema informativo integrato economico ed ambientale
Annuario statistico italiano 2012(2012), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20121218_00
Annuario statistico italiano 2010(2010), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20101119_00
Statistiche dell' agricoltura - Anno 1998(2001), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/schedavolume.php?ID=129
Annuario statistico italiano 2014(2014), Flagship
http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/134686
Annuario statistico italiano 2008(2008), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20081112_00
Annuario statistico italiano 2009(2009), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20091120_00
Statistiche dell'agricoltura(2006), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20060530_01
Annuario statistico italiano 2004(2004), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/asi2004
Annuario statistico italiano 2011(2011), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20111216_00
Statistiche dell' agricoltura - Anno 1997(2000), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/schedavolume.php?ID=106
Annuario statistico italiano 2000(2000), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/schedavolume.php?ID=462
Annuario statistico italiano 2013(2013), Flagship
http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/107568
Annuario statistico italiano 2006(2006), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20061109_00
Annuario statistico italiano 2001(2001), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/schedavolume.php?ID=464
Annuario statistico italiano 2005(2005), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/asi2005
Annuario statistico italiano 2015(2015), Flagship
http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/171864
Annuario statistico italiano 2003(2003), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/asi2003
Annuario statistico italiano 2002(2002), Yearbooks
http://www3.istat.it/dati/catalogo/20021106_00

9.3 Dissemination format - online database

Information Sistem Agricultural and livestock

http://agri.istat.it

9.3.1 Data tables - consultations

http://agri.istat.it/sag_is_pdwout/jsp/Introduzione.jsp

9.4 Dissemination format - microdata access

Italian Statistical System Institutions can require microdata

9.5 Dissemination format - other

no references

9.6 Documentation on methodology

infromation on the survey are available on istat web site
http://www.istat.it/it/informazioni/per-i-rispondenti
http://www.istat.it/it/informazioni/per-i-rispondenti/elenco-delle-rilevazioni

9.7 Quality management - documentation

The Istat Information system on quality of statistical production processes SIQual (http://siqual.istat.it/SIQual/lang.do?language=UK) contains information on the execution on Istat statistical production processes and on activities developed to guarantee quality of the produced statistical information.
For Details: http://siqual.istat.it/SIQual/visualizza.do?id=5000024&refresh=true&language=EN

9.7.1 Metadata completeness - rate

not available

9.7.2 Metadata - consultations

Not available

10. Cost and Burden

approximatly 50,000 euros

11. Confidentiality

11.1 Confidentiality - policy

Several national legal acts guarantee the confidentiality of data requested for statistical purposes. According to art. 9, paragraph 1 of the Legislative Decree n. 322 of 1989, personal data cannot be disseminated but in aggregated form, in order to make it impossible to make any reference to identifiable individuals. They can only be used for statistical purposes. Legislative Decree n. 322 of 1989, art. 6 bis and Legislative Decree n. 196 of 2003 Annex A3 (Code of conduct and professional practice applying to the processing of personal data for statistical and scientific research purposes within the framework of the national statistical system), art. 8, provide that the exchange of personal data within the National Statistical System (Sistan) is possible if it is necessary to fulfil requirements provided by the National Statistical Programme or to allow the pursuit of institutional purposes. The supply of the identification data of statistical units is allowed within the framework of entities included in the National Statistical System if the requesting party declares that no identical statistical result can be obtained otherwise . Regarding subjects who do not belong to Sistan, Article. 7 of the Code of conduct (Decree n. 196/2003, Annex A3) states that it is possible to transmit individual data files without direct identifiers within the framework of specific laboratories set up by entities included in the National Statistical System, under certain conditions and only if that the data are protected by the application of different statistical methods that make it highly unlikely the identification of statistical units.

11.2 Confidentiality - data treatment

During the phase of data treatment, the confidentality is assured by different storage of two different datasets: one contain the microdata with identification code of enterprise, and second dataset contain the identification code and the address of enterprise.

12. Comment

No comment