EXPLANATORY NOTES
INTRODUCTION
1 These Explanatory Notes provide additional information about confidentialisation of import and export commodities including special confidentiality arrangements, how to apply for a confidentiality restriction, how to print restrictions for a specific period from the Confidential Commodities List (CCL) spreadsheet and how to obtain more information. A description of the actual fields in the CCL is available from the Summary tab of this document. The actual CCL datacube is available from the Details tab.
EFFECTS OF CONFIDENTIALITY ON BROADER COMMODITY GROUPS
2 Where a restriction has been placed on a commodity, country, state, etc, data for that commodity, country, state, etc, is suppressed not only at the detailed level (8 digit AHECC or 10 digit HTISC) but also in any broader level output.
3 For example, state of destination information for imports of Fresh Orchids into Australia, HS code 0603.10.00/14, is restricted. This means that if you are looking at state of destination data for the code 0603.10.00, Fresh cut flowers etc, the figure does not include the statistics for Fresh Orchids. Likewise, state of destination data for SITC code 292.71 Cut flowers and flower buds etc, does not include statistics for Fresh Orchids.
NON-STANDARD ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE NOT REFLECTED IN THE CCL
Aluminium oxide, or alumina (AHECC code 2818.20.00)
4 A "No Country Details" restriction was placed on alumina in the 1970s. Consequently, statistics of Australia's exports to most countries include alumina exports under the "Confidential item" in Chapter 99. However, this arrangement does not fully meet the ABS's obligations. In the case of some countries, data for alumina would account for nearly all of the confidential item. The alumina component has therefore been removed from the confidential items for these countries and presented as a single aggregate "Country Confidential - Alumina".
5 The countries for which this additional or "secondary" restriction applies are not listed in the CCL. For the period up to and including statistics for February 1992, the countries grouped for this "secondary" restriction were Norway, Egypt and Iceland. From March 1992, they were Bahrain, Egypt and Iceland.
Port statistics - Gove and Groote Eylandt
6 In some instances there is not sufficient diversity of trade to allow release of data by port. In these cases it is necessary to aggregate data for some ports.
7 In the case of Gove and Groote Eylandt, details by individual port are suppressed and are shown against a "Confidential ports - NT" code. This permits accurate totals by State to be released.
8 As the CCL presents details of restrictions by commodity, it does not contain any reference to the restrictions for the ports of Gove and Groote Eylandt.
SPECIAL AGGREGATE DATA RELEASES
9 In some instances, it is possible to release abridged aggregates of confidential monthly data without infringing individuals' or organisations' exercised rights to restrictions. This is achieved by aggregating monthly data and presenting it on a quarterly, 6 monthly or annual basis. For example, statistics on exports of mineral sands and uncut diamonds are released on this basis. Again some statistics may be able to be released after an agreed period has elapsed, for example, quarterly details of exports of raw sugar cane in bulk are currently being released with a 6 month lag. Statistical users interested in this option should contact the Confidentiality Manager (contact details below) for further details.
HISTORICAL CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS
10 This file contains a listing of all restrictions from January 1988 to date. Refer to International Merchandise Trade: Confidential Commodities List - Historical List of Items Subject to Confidentiality Restrictions (cat. no. 5372.0.55.004) on the Details tab for this publication.
HOW TO PRINT INFORMATION FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD FROM THE CCL DATACUBE
11 The CCL's are presented in Commodity Code order. To print information for a specific period from a particular CCL you first need to sort all the data by the relevant field, for example: date deleted, date of effect or date of cessation. Then highlight the required time period, such as all cells for 1/3/02 to 1/3/06 and then print the selected view.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CONFIDENTIALITY RESTRICTIONS
12 If you are an exporter or importer and wish to apply for a confidentiality restriction, download the booklet in the Information Paper, Request to Confidentialise International Trade Data, 2001 (cat. no. 5497.0.55.001) which can be accessed from the Related information tab of this document. This contains details on the circumstances under which restrictions may be applied, types of restrictions and how to apply for a restriction.
13 More detailed information on confidentiality can be obtained from the Information Paper, International Merchandise trade Statistics, Australia: Data Confidentiality (cat. no. 5487.0) which can be accessed from the Balance of Payments and Related information tab of this document. Alternatively you can contact the Confidentiality Manager, International Trade Section on (02) 6252 5409.
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