PREFACE

This document details all import and export commodities which have been subject to confidentiality restrictions since 1 January 1988. The data cube containing the details of the confidentialisation is referred to as the Confidential Commodities List (CCL).

The CCL is available from the Details tab of this document. The data cube presents information under the following four headings:

• changes and new restrictions to import items in the current month
• changes and new restrictions to export items in the current month
• all import restrictions from January 1988 to the current month
• all export restrictions from January 1988 to the current month.

CHANGES IN THE FORTHCOMING ISSUE

From the July 2008 reference month, there will be a change to the presentation of the Confidential Commodities List to incorporate the presentation of statistics on a Standard International Trade Classification Revision 4 (SITC REV4) basis.

For details about the introduction of SITC REV4 and the impact on related classifications, refer to the Information Paper: Impact of introducing Revision 4 of the Standard International Trade Classification, 2008 (cat. no. 5368.0.55.010).

The presentation of the CCL datacube will be modified to include an additional column to accommodate SITC REV4 correspondences.

There will be a break in series for statistics on a recorded trade basis presented according SITC and related classifications. From the July 2008 reference month, data will only be available on a SITC REV4 basis for periods after June 2007. However, data will be available for 2005-06 and 2006-07 on both a current and new basis for SITC. This will allow clients to analyse the effect of the changes.

Within the CCL, Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) and Australian Customs Tariff (HTISC) codes ceasing prior to July 2005 will not have a correspondence to SITC REV4 and codes opening after July 2008 will not have a correspondence to SITC REV3.

If you require further information about the changes, please write, email or telephone:

Balance of Payments and International Trade Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
PO Box 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
ph: 02 6252 5409

email: international.trade@abs.gov.au