NSCB Resolution No. 3
Series of 2005

APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE 2004 PHILIPPINE
STANDARD COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION (PSCC)

WHEREAS, a standard classification is necessary to ensure uniformity and comparability of statistics on economic activities compiled in the country;

WHEREAS, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) develops and prescribes uniform standards and classification systems in the generation of official statistics to ensure harmonization of statistics in the country and at the international level;

WHEREAS, the NSCB maintains the 1993 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC) based on the Standard International Trade Commodity (SITC) Rev. 3 issued by the United Nations Statistical Office in 1986;

WHEREAS, the 1993 PSCC was amended in 1997 and 1999 due to the issuance of the July 1999 Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) which incorporated all changes in the nomenclature and/or tariff rates issued and implemented from September 1997 to January 1999 by the Tariff Commission;

WHEREAS, the PSCC is used to compile foreign trade data while the TCCP is used for tariff purposes;

WHEREAS, to enhance the flow of goods in the South East Asian Nations, members of the ASEAN agreed to use a common tariff nomenclature known as ASEAN Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature (AHTN);

WHEREAS, a Protocol governing the implementation of the AHTN was approved on August 7, 2003 by the ASEAN members states;

WHEREAS, the AHTN is an 8-digit nomenclature, which consists of the 2002 version of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, including the ASEAN subheadings and commodity description;

WHEREAS, a common classification system is needed that can be used both for economic analysis and for tariff purposes;

WHEREAS, the use of the AHTN does not include some of the information included in the PSCC for statistical purposes, thus making necessary, the integration of the PSCC and the AHTN;

WHEREAS, the NSCB Technical Committee on Statistical Standards and Classifications (TC-SSC), through its Technical Working Group on Commodity Classification reviewed the 2004 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC), in its meeting held 26 November 2004 and approved the same thru a referendum among members of the TC-SSC conducted on December 6, 2004;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the NSCB Executive Board approve the 2004 Philippine Standard Commodity Classification (PSCC) for adoption by all concerned government agencies and instrumentalities;

BE IT RESOLVED FURTHER, that the National Statistics Office (NSO) be allowed one year from approval within which to design and implement changes in the generation of foreign trade statistics based on the approved 2004 PSCC.

Approved this 24th day of January 2005, in Pasig City.

Attested by:

ROMULO A. VIROLA
Secretary General