Accuracy and reliability

Overall accuracy

The technical quality of the statistics is very high, among other things because the statistics cover the total area and there is a very high response rate. When the data are collected in the database by the Environmental Protection Agency, they are examined to check whether the product volumes tally with the volumes of active substances. The sales figures for the active substances are compared with the figures for the previous year. Statistics Denmark sums up the data and checks that the total figures are correct. In the event of misunderstandings or mistakes or surprising developments, contact is made with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Sampling error

Not relevant for these statistics.

Non-sampling error

There is a small coverage mistake as pesticides used outside the agricultural sector is not included.

Quality management

Statistics Denmark follows the recommendations on organisation and management of quality given in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and the implementation guidelines given in the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF). A Working Group on Quality and a central quality assurance function have been established to continuously carry through control of products and processes.

Quality assurance

Statistics Denmark follows the principles in the Code of Practice for European Statistics (CoP) and uses the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (QAF) for the implementation of the principles. This involves continuous decentralized and central control of products and processes based on documentation following international standards. The central quality assurance function reports to the Working Group on Quality. Reports include suggestions for improvement that are assessed, decided and subsequently implemented.

Quality assessment

Data collected by another agency, and it is therefore difficult to come up with an accurate assesment of the statistics overall quality. However, validity is checked using other sources for comparison, and consequently it is estimated to be of reasonable quality.

Data revision - policy

Statistics Denmark revises published figures in accordance with the Revision Policy for Statistics Denmark. The common procedures and principles of the Revision Policy are for some statistics supplemented by a specific revision practice.

Data revision practice

No provisional statistics are published. The pesticide statistics from the Danish Plant Protection Agency are published at the end of February and at the beginning of March. The statistics only include sales from members. According to the Danish Crop Protection Association the pesticide statistics include 95 per cent of sales. If these data were to be used to publish provisional statistics, it would be necessary to make an enumeration of the last 5 per cent of sales.