1. Workshop on International Classifications Armenia 19-21 March 2013, Chisinau, Moldova

2. At the moment the following classifications are used NACE rev.2 – National Classification of Economic Activities (approved by the Minister of Economy, 03.06.2009 N 372-N). CPA – National Classification of Products by Activity (approved by the Minister of Economy, 11.10.2011 N 772-N). ISCO – National Classification of Occupations (approved by the Minister of Economy, 31.07.2009 N 632-N) COICOP – Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (approved by the Minister of Economy, 21.02.2012 N 161-N). FEACC – Unified Foreign Economic Activity Commodity Classification, rev. 4, applied since 2007.

3. The legal framework A legal basis for the establishment and implementation of National Classifications is in set by: – Law of the Republic of Armenia "On Statistics“ – Law "On Standardization“ – Law of the Republic of Armenia on the “Three-year program of state statistical work“ and – Annual program of state statistical work.

4. Statistical classification Provide a framework for the collection, reporting and analysis of data, promote uniformity and comparability Used for administrative purposes, as well as used by non- governmental organizations for the grouping of economic activities, products, professions etc. in a common structure

5. The above revised classifications support 1. Quality 2. Relevance 3. Accuracy 4. Timeliness 5. Availability 6. Comparability Currently, there are no revisions of classifications on-going Revisions are essential for reflecting changes in technology and economic organization and for meeting new and current information needs Revision of existing data collection forms has to be done in parallel with revising classifications

6. Status of implementation Classifications are used in the industrial statistics, national accounts, price statistics, balance of payments statistics, the statistics of households and the population census Classifications will also be used in the upcoming general agricultural census of Armenia

7. Challenges in development, implementation and maintenance of national classifications Extension of the glossary of terms used in the introduction and metadata The small number of experts dealing with classification issues Absence of a clear program for training of experts and users, as well as for providing consultancy Translation into the national language, while respecting the detailed description of goods

8. Time series With new classifications all time series are usually re- calculated one or two years back, based on available resources