23.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 118/23 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 753/2004 of 22 April 2004 implementing Decision No 1608/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards statistics on science and technology (Text with EEA relevance) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Decision No 1608/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 2003 concerning the production and development of Community statistics on science and technology (') and in particular Article 3 thereof, Whereas: (1) It is necessary to adopt measures for the implementation of individual statistical actions as determined in Article 2 of Decision No 1608/2003/EC; those actions are neces- sary in order to establish Community statistics on science, technology and innovation. (2)  The Community statistical programme constitutes the framework for the production of all Community statis- tics, and Decision No 2367/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the Community statistical programme 2003 to 2007 () has specifically determined the work programme for the production and improvement of statistics on science and technology for the period 2003 to 2007. (3) It is necessary to ensure the consistency of Community statistics on science and technology with other interna- tional standards, which entails taking into account the work carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD) and other interna- tional organisations. () In implementing Decision No 1608/2003/EC, regard should be had to the framework provided by Council Regulation (EC) No 322/97 of 17 February 1997 on Community Statistics (}) when laying down provisions to cover access to administrative sources and statistical confidentiality. (5)  The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Statistical Programme Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The measures for implementing Decision No 1608/2003/EC with regard to Community statistics on science and technology shall be as set out in this Regulation. () OJ L 230, 16.9.2003, p. 1. () OJL 358, 31.12.2002, p. 1. () OJ L 52, 22.2.1997, p. 1. Regulation amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (O] L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1). Atticle 2 1. This Regulation shall cover the following domains: (a) statistics on research and development; (b) statistics on government budget appropriations or outlays on research and development (GBAORD); (c) statistics on human resources in science and technology, including gender and mobility statistics (HRST), statistics on patents, statistics on high-technology industries and know- ledge-based services and other statistics on science and technology. For the domains cited in points (a) and (b), the lists of statistical variables, the activities and sectors covered, the breakdowns of the results, the frequency, the deadlines for data transmission, the pilot studies for developing, inter alia, new variables and other particular activities to be undertaken and the transitional period shall be as specified in sections 1 and 2 of the Annex. For the domains cited in point (c), the necessary data shall mostly be acquired from existing statistical or other data sources, in accordance with section 3 of the Annex. 2. On the basis of the conclusions in the reports presented to the European Parliament and to the Council pursuant to Article 5 of Decision No 1608/2003/EC, the lists of statistical variables, the activities and sectors covered, the breakdowns of the results, the frequency, the deadlines for data transmission, the list of pilot studies and other characteristics laid down in the Annex to this Regulation shall, where appropriate, be revised at regular intervals in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 4 of that Decision. Atticle 3 Member States shall acquire the necessary data using a combi- nation of different sources such as sample surveys, administra- tive data sources or other data sources. In terms of quality or statistical estimation procedures, the other data sources shall be at least equivalent to sample surveys or administrative data sources.