Statistical Law Revised to Enhance Data Integrity and Scientific Accuracy
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) has approved amendments to the Statistical Law, aimed at reinforcing measures against statistical fraud and improving the scientific nature of statistical work. The revised law, effective immediately, introduces three new provisions and revises 21 existing ones, according to a press release by Xinhua Daily Telegraph on September 14, 2024.
The amendments to the Statistical Law, which were passed during the eleventh session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, focus on strengthening the responsibility for preventing and punishing statistical fraud, enhancing statistical supervision, and improving the scientific nature of statistics. The revisions maintain the current structure of the Statistical Law while addressing legal gaps and weaknesses.
Shi Hong, Director of the Social Law Division of the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Committee, explained that the amendments are problem-oriented, expanding the functions of statistical supervision and refining the basic systems of statistical investigation, national economic accounting, management and publication of statistical data. The amendments also strengthen legal responsibilities for statistical fraud and other violations.
To prevent and punish statistical fraud, the amended law includes provisions that incorporate the prevention and punishment of statistical fraud into the scope of legal administrative and duty performance responsibilities. It also stipulates that no party shall explicitly or implicitly instruct subordinates or statistical investigation subjects to report false statistical data. The law further forbids retaliation against entities or individuals who perform their duties in accordance with the law or resist statistical violations.
For responsible individuals who neglect their duties in overseeing the accuracy of statistical data, the revised law increases legal responsibilities and adds a catch-all provision to ensure that all types of statistical fraud and falsification are fully punished.
In terms of strengthening statistical supervision, the revised law clarifies the connotation and functional positioning of statistical supervision. It requires the establishment of a systematic, comprehensive, collaborative, efficient, constrained, authoritative, and reliable statistical supervision system. The law mandates that statistical agencies, according to statistical investigation systems and approved plans, conduct statistical supervision on the implementation of major national socio-economic policies and measures by various regions and departments, as well as their fulfillment of legal responsibilities in statistics.
The law also includes provisions to enhance the production capacity, data quality, and service level of government statistics. These provisions include adapting statistical standards and indicators to new economic developments, incorporating new economic sectors into statistical investigations, implementing a unified national economic accounting system, promoting the integration of modern information technology with statistical work, and driving the digitalization and standardization of statistical records.
The amendments to the Statistical Law reflect China’s commitment to improving the accuracy and reliability of statistical data. By reinforcing legal frameworks and enhancing supervision mechanisms, the revised law aims to promote a more transparent, accountable, and scientifically grounded statistical system.
The passage of the revised Statistical Law marks a significant step forward in China’s efforts to address statistical irregularities and enhance data integrity. With strengthened legal provisions and enhanced supervisory mechanisms, the new law is expected to foster a more trustworthy and scientifically robust statistical environment, contributing to the country’s overall socio-economic development and policy-making.
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