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Intrastat - Info
Nomenclature and codes
Publications and figures
The foreign trade statistics are established according to the national concept and the Community concept, in accordance with European and national legal provisions.
Below is some information about public statistics.
Revised figures from 2014 onwards following the introduction by the NBB of a new tool for compiling foreign trade statistics
Methodological reference
Description of the annual revisions 2015-2019/S1 of foreign goods trade statistics
Foreign trade statistics according to the national concept: description of the method of calculation
Legal framework: European legislation
Member States of the European Union are required to compile foreign trade statistics. The European Union has published various Regulations on this subject which are mandatory for the Member States. These legislative texts also describe the rules for compiling these statistics and oblige firms in the various Member States to submit the necessary data to the competent national authorities.
Basic regulation – European Business Statistics
Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (OJ L 327, 17.12.2019)
Implementing regulation – European Business Statistics
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics (OJ L 271, 18.8.2020)
Legal framework: national legislation
Member States of the European Union are required to compile foreign trade statistics. The European Union has published various regulations on this subject which are mandatory for the Member States. Since these regulations do not lay down detailed rules on every aspect, the Member States are obliged to regulate certain matters by national legislation.
General statistical legislation
Law of 4 July 1962 (NL-FR) on public statistics (B.S. 20.07.1962).
Amended by:
Law of 1 August 1985 (B.S. 6.08.1985)
Law of 21 December 1994 (B.S. 23.12.1994)
Law of 2 January 2001 (B.S. 03.01.2001 - 2nd edition)
Law of 2 August 2002 (B.S. 29.08.2002)
Law of 22 March 2006 (B.S. 21.04.2006 - 02.05.2006 errata)
Law of 6 May 2009 (B.S. 19.05.2009)
Law of 26 June 2000 concerning the introduction of the Euro in the legislation concerning matters on art. 78 of the Constitution (B.S. 29.07.2000).
Royal Decree of 10 September 2009 (NL-FR) concerning the period and the modality of payment of the administrative fine in application of Art. 21octies of the Law of 4 July 1962 on public statistics. (B.S. 18.09.2009).
Specific legislation relating to Intrastat
Royal Decree of 9 January 2005 (NL-FR) establishing monthly statistics relating to the trading of goods between Belgium and the other EC Member States (B.S. 26.01.2005).
Royal Decree of 11 January 2006 (B.S. 30.01.2006).
Royal Decree of 21 February 2010 (B.S. 26.02.2010).
Royal Decree of 10 October 2014 (B.S. 23.10.2014).
Royal Decree of 8 February 1995 (NL-FR) appointing certain persons to investigate and find infringements relating to the statistics referred to in Article 108(f) of the Law of 21 December 1994 containing social and miscellaneous provisions (B.S. 14.03.1995).
Royal Decree of 26 December 1998 (B.S. 10.02.1999).
It is important to note that if a business concerned by the Intrastat declaration fails to fill up and/or send it in to the National Bank within the prescribed time limit, administrative or legal sanctions may be imposed. These are described in Articles 19 to 23 of the Law of 4 July 1962 on public statistics.
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