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24 November 2003

2003 quest. - Summary of ISIC section 13 responses

The proposed two-digit level structure for section 13 "Professional, Scientific and Technical Services": 13.1 Legal services 13.2 Accounting services 13.3 Architecture and Engineering services 13.4 Technical testing and analysis 13.5 Computer Services 13.6 Management and management consultancy services 13.7 Research and development 13.8 Advertising services 13.9 Other professional, scientific and technical services

Summary of responses to section 13 "Professional, Scientific and Technical Services": Twelve respondents addressed the proposed scope of the grouping, with seven expressing agreement. Two respondents addressed the issue of classification of the activities of writers of technical publications (legal and other scientific and professional trade journals, text books, articles, etc.). Both agreed with their inclusion in this section. Action to be taken/issues for consideration 1. Repeated caveat was issued by Australia that "institutional sector aspects should not confuse or drive the industrial classification". 2. Discussion needed on more general conceptual issue regarding composition of Section 13. This is arising out of the specific discussion re. arbitration and conciliation. The argument being put forward is that a defining criterion of activities of this section is the "application of an establishment concept and human capital requirements", rather than the "service provided". This application would for example allow activities of lawyers and paralegals to be placed in Division 13.1, while similar services provided by others not qualified to practice law, would be excluded. In similar vein, two respondents (Thailand and Hungary) argued that the activities of writers of technical publications should be included with Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. 3. Discussion needed re. Public Opinion and Market research Activities. One respondent (UK - no reason), would like to see Market Research activities given parity with "Advertising services" at the Division level, while other respondent (US) would like to see it placed within Management and management consultancy services because the output of the activity is basically the consulting work and advice to companies and not the direct printing/advertising campaign. 4. Recommendation (USA) for breakdown within the Research and Development Division: (a) Biotechnology Research and Development (b) Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology Research and Development) (c) Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities Canada recommends breakdown into (b) and (c) above, as further breakdown is not supported by subject matter specialists. 5. Definition of "non-financial" versus "financial" holding companies to be clarified, as contention of one respondent (Australia) is that all holding companies, de facto, are engaged in holding financial instruments. This clarification will assist in determining whether some portion of holding companies can be placed in Management and management consultancy services or whether they should all be placed in Financial and Insurance Services Section. Head office activities should also be identifiable separately. 6. Request to delineate more carefully between computer services that potentially should be placed with Information services and those that belong here: * Should machine-to-machine solutions (services relating to hardware, network connections) be here or with Information? Argument -they represent the creation of preconditions for information transfer and should be placed with Information. * Computer assisted control and monitoring of large production machinery, pre-programming - should they be kept here? * Data processing services - should they be with information because they have the characteristic of sharing of information or should they be kept with Computer services? 7. Decide whether additional division be created for specialized design services - interior design, graphic design and similar design services - Split them out from 13.9 - Other professional, scientific and technical services. Argument (US) that these are specialized designed services with some homogeneity in the activities. 8. Writers of technical publications (legal, other scientific, professional, technical trade journals, text books, articles, etc - recommendation to include their activities in Section 13. S13.1 Legal Services One comment by US - Activities of lawyers and paralegal included in this Division, activities performed by others, not qualified to practice law, are excluded. (Argument centred on the human capital requirement). S13.2 Accounting Services No comment made on this proposed Division S13.3 Architecture and Engineering Services Boundary questions addressed 1. On the question of geological and prospecting activities, there were four respondents to the question on whether to place exploration activities for oil and gas, metals and non-metallic minerals here or with mining. Three (Australia, Canada, Thailand) agreed with placement as services to mining activities and one specified that only non-geophysical surveying and prospecting activities on a fee or contract basis should be included in mining. 2. Re. landscape and architectural services - splitting into design and maintenance portions, response was mixed. Three respondents (Canada, Thailand, USA) would like to see split, with landscape installation/maintenance portion going to Division 14.7 - Services to Dwelling and Industrial Cleaning Services and one respondent disagreed with the split with proviso that clearer definition should be established between "landscaping" and "gardening". 3. Recommendation (Poland) for items (presumably classes) for geological and geological-cartographic services. S13.4 Technical Testing and Analysis Boundary questions addressed 1. Two of three respondents agreed that veterinary testing in relation to food production should be included here. 2. With regard to automotive emissions testing, two respondents answered, indicating that establishments should be placed here when this is their primary activity and such activity is identifiable, as distinct from when this service is offered in conjunction with repair and maintenance. 3. Agreement (by the one respondent who addressed the question) that government laboratories such as FDA, police labs should be included here rather than being placed in Public Administration. S13.5 Computer services Boundary questions addressed 1. Need discussion re inclusion of data processing here. One recommendation that data processing services should be placed in the Information Section as they have the characteristic of information dissemination (Mexico). On the other hand India argues that because they require special skills and knowledge, they should be kept here under Computer services S13.6 Management and management consultancy services Boundary questions addressed The main issue raised with regard to this division concerns "non-financial" and "financial" holding companies. No consensus emerged as to whether non-financial and/or financial holdings should be placed in this Division. One (UK) strong recommendation was made to keep them separate. One (Australia) respondent raised definitional question about the difference between financial and non-financial holding companies. One recommendation made to place executive search consulting services with employment services. S13.7 Research and development Structure issue One concrete recommendation was made/supported (NAICS) at international level for breakdown within this Division * Biotechnology Research and Development * Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology Research and Development) * Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities S13.8 Advertising services Boundary questions 1. One respondent supports the NAICS approach of including public relations in Advertising 2. One respondent supports the NAICS approach of including merchandise demonstration and mannequin decoration in Advertising. 3. Mailing operations in connection with advertising campaigns, letter shop services, when constituting the primary activity of unit, should be placed in Advertising, as a secondary activity, then classify under Admin and Support Services S13.9 Other professional, technical and scientific services Boundary questions 1. Concerning the inclusion of fish stock management in this Division or in Fishing, one respondent (Thailand), wishes to see it placed here in Professional services. 2. Re. consumer credit and debt counselling, the sole respondent (Thailand) would like to see it classified under Social Services. 3. Writers of technical books, documents.