1 The Australian and New Zealand Standard Product Classification (ANZSPC) has been developed for use in Australia and New Zealand for the collection and presentation of product statistics for goods and services. It replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Commodity Classification (ANZSCC)1 which has been in use since 1996.
2 The ANZSPC continues the strategy of the ANZSCC in the progressive implementation of international Central Product Classification (CPC)2 standards in the statistical series of the two agencies. These standards have been applied to the maintenance and development of product items collected for some years and are reflected in the way they are presented in the ANZSPC, and the level of alignment with the international standard.
3 There has been extensive consultation to ensure that the ANZSPC reflects the structure of both the Australian and New Zealand economies in terms of production, and requirements for statistics. The ABS and SNZ encourage other organisations to use the classification in their own systems, to improve the comparability and usefulness of product statistics.
4 In the development of the ANZSPC, strong emphasis has been placed on alignment with international standards. The CPC Version 1.0 provides the basis for the classification and links are provided to other international standard classifications to aid the comparability of product statistics both nationally and internationally. A more detailed background on the historical development of international product classifications can be found in the introduction to the CPC.
5 Whereas the ANZSCC was based upon the Provisional CPC3, the ANZSPC is based upon the later CPC Version 1.0 which better reflects contemporary standards in product classification. Like the ANZSCC, the ANZSPC follows the CPC to the lowest level of detail possible consistent with Australian and New Zealand requirements. At a minimum, the ANZSPC aligns with CPC Version 1.0 categories at the Group (3 digit) level. However, lower level alignment has been achieved for most CPC Version 1.0 categories. Australia and New Zealand have agreed that each national statistical agency can create items below the Subclass level to meet national statistical requirements. These issues are discussed in more detail in Structure and layout of the classification, below.
6 All ANZSPC product categories are linked to the appropriate categories of the ANZSIC4, the CPC Version 1.0, the Standard Industrial Trade Classification (SITC) Revision 35 and the Harmonized System (HS)6. As any of these classifications are updated, the links to the ANZSPC will be updated.
7 The ANZSPC will not remain static at its detailed level. Categories will be revised as statistical requirements change and other changes will follow national and international research which shows changes to the local and world economies, and the emergence of new products or changes in the nature of existing products.
8 The Australian Bureau of Statistics and Statistics New Zealand will assist users to interpret and use the classification for their own purposes. Users are encouraged to discuss their requirements with either agency.
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