STATISTICS ACT

REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

STATISTICS ACT

Promulgated State Gazette No. 25/29.03.1991

Amended SG No. 64/06.08.1991

Chapter One

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

(1) This Act designates the status and activities of the units of statistics and their relations with Natural persons or corporate bodies in carrying out statistics work .

(2) Statistics activities comprise the collection, processing, analysis, storage, submission and publication of statistical data.

(3) Statistical activities are the responsibility of the National Statistics Institute, the Regional Statistics Offices, and of natural persons.

Chapter Two

NATIONAL STATISTICS INSTITUTE

Article 2

The National Statistics Institute is a state institution, responsible for statistical activities in Bulgaria and it provides society with statistical data.

Article 3

The National Statistics Institute is a juridical entity, financed by the state budget.

Article 4

(1) The National Statistics Institute shall be directed by a President and two Vice-Presidents elected and relieved by the National Assembly for a term of 5 years.

(2) The President of the National Statistics Institute:

1. Shall determine the structure and personnel of the National Statistics Institute and the Regional Statistics Offices;

2. Shall establish the Regional Statistics Offices;

3. Appoint the personnel in the National Statistics Institute and the heads of the Regional Statistical Offices.

Article 5

(1) Annually the President of the National Statistics Institute shall submit to the National Assembly for approval a schedule of and report on statistical surveys. The National Assembly shall approve also a list of the statistical information, to be published.

(2) Based on the adopted schedule the President of the National Statistics Institute shall approve programmes for statistical surveys.

Article 6

The National Statistics Institute shall :

1. Collect the necessary statistical information and produce statistical data;

2. Develop, maintain and apply national nomenclature and classificators, which comply with the requirements of the international standards;

3. Prepare analyses, projections and assessments for social and economic, demographic and other processes;

4. Publish statistical data by means of general and specialized publications and the mass media;

5. Carry out research activities;

6. Participate in the work for defining the form and content of the annual accounting report and of other documents used as sources of statistical information;

7. Establish and maintain national and local registers and automated systems for statistical data processing by using modern computer and communication equipment and ensure compatibility with international information systems;

8. Assist state bodies, economic and other organizations in the establishment of their own statistical information systems with the purpose of ensuring information compatibility;

9. Exercise control on the reliability of the statistical returns, the observance of deadlines, methodology and other requirements for the statistical information;

10. Organize activities to enhance the further qualification of specialists, employed with statistics .

Article 7

The National Statistics Institute carries out statistical surveys following the requirements and decisions of statistical and other international organizations.

Article 8

The National Statistics Institute shall carry out every 10 year or in shorter periods comprehensive demographical and agricultural censuses and annually or over longer intervals other comprehensive censuses and sample surveys.

Article 9

The National Statistics Institute shall conduct international co-operation in the field of statistics through participation in the work of the international organizations and institutes, as well as by bilateral and multilateral agreements and contracts with related organizations in other countries.

Article 10

At the National Statistics Institute an automated information and reference bureau at the National Statistical Archive shall be established for domestic and foreign users. The procedures for provision of services to users are defined by the Council of Ministers.

Article 11

(1) At the National Statistics Institute a Supreme Statistical Council shall be established, composed of specialists and experts in the field of statistics and informatics, and representatives of the main users of statistics.

(2) The Supreme Statistical Council shall be a consultative body of the National Statistics Institute and providing expert opinions, assessments and recommendations on the schedule, programmes and the report on the statistical surveys, the structure of the National Statistics Institute, on guidelines for the development of statistics and the curricula for training the statistical personnel.

(3) The President of the National Statistics Institute shall designate the composition of the Supreme Statistical Council and publish the regulations for its activities.

Chapter Three

REGIONAL STATISTICAL OFFICES

Article 12

(1) Regional Statistical Offices shall be subdivisions of the National Statistics Institute. They shall be established according to the administrative and territorial division of the country.

(2) Regional Statistical Offices shall fulfil the functions and tasks of the National Statistics Institute at the respective regional units, and ensure the establishment and functioning of local information systems.

(3) Regional Statistical Offices shall conduct analyses, projections and publish statistical data.

Article 13

The personnel of the Regional Statistical Office shall be appointed by its chief officer.

Chapter Four

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
WITH RESPECT TO STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

Article 14

All juridical and physical persons shall submit statistical information to the National Statistics Institute and to the Regional Statistical Offices according to the following approved plan and the programmes for statistical surveys.

Article 15

The National Statistics Institute and the Regional Statistical Offices shall collect statistical information drawing on:

1. state bodies and officers for obligatory participation;

2. juridical and physical persons for voluntary participation or for contractual participation .

Article 16

On a contractual basis the National Statistics Institute and the Regional Statistical Offices shall carry out statistical surveys out of the approved schedule ; funds realised shall be in an extra budget account and shall be used for technical development, improvement of surveys, social and communal purposes, qualification and additional incentives for the personnel.

Article 17

The National Statistics Institute and the Regional Statistical Offices shall furnish the respective users with statistical data from the surveys in accordance with the approved schedule . When additional surveys are necessary, relations between the parties shall be arranged on a contractual basis.

Article 18

Statistical returns concerning individual juridical and physical persons shall be used only for statistical purposes.

Article 19

Officials conducting statistical activities shall sign an oath not to reveal confidential statistical data.

Article 20

The juridical and physical persons conducting statistical activities and establishing information systems, shall use concepts, nomenclature and classifications compatible with those approved by the National Statistics Institute.

Chapter Five

ADMINISTRATIVE AND PUNITIVE MEASURES

Article 21

Whosoever, when obliged by law, refuses to provide information or does not keep the set deadlines for the statistical surveys, carried out by the National Statistics Institute, shall be liable to pay a fine of 500 to 1000 levs.

Article 22

Whosoever, when obliged by law, provides false information, if not liable to heavier penalty under another law, shall be liable to pay a fine of 1000 to 1500 levs.

Article 23

Whosoever illegally discloses or circulates individual statistical returns concerning legal or physical entities, if not liable to heavier penalty under another law, shall be liable to pay a fine of 1000 to 2000 levs.

Article 24

An official who has an access to individual statistical returns and uses them for self-interested purposes shall be liable to pay a fine of 5000 to 10000 levs, if not liable to heavier penalty under another law.

Article 25

(1) The penal orders for the fines under this chapter are issued by the President of the National Statistics Institutes or by an official appointed by him on the basis of a statement drawn up by officials of the National Statistics Institute and the Regional Statistical Offices.

(2) The statements shall be drawn up and the penal orders shall be issued and subjected to appeal as per the provisions of the Administrative Violations and Penalties Act.

SUPPLEMENTARY AND CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

§ 1. This Act abrogates the Decree on penalties in connection with violations of statistical accountancy (promulgated in State Gazette, No 21 of 1953; amended, No 47 of 1962; State Gazette, No 89 of 1986).

§ 2. The Central Statistical Office, established in accordance with Decree No 2604 of November 22, 1989 (State Gazette No 92 of 1989) is abolished, whereby its actives and The passives are taken over by the National Statistics Institute.

This Act was submitted to a vote and duly adopted by the Grand National Assembly on 18 March 1991 and the State Seal was affixed hereto.

Chairman of the Grand National Assembly: Nikolai Todorov

Note: The amendments have been introduced with the Amendment Act to the Statistics Act, which was submitted to a vote and duly adopted by the Grand National Assembly on 29 July 1991 and the State Seal was affixed hereto.