One of the consequences following establishment of the European Union was removal of borders and customs formalities between the Member States and thus creating a single market. European Union’s statistics was deprived of data source on trade in goods within the European Union territory, because customs clearances were discontinued and customs document SAD (Single Administrative Document) disappeared. Therefore it was necessary to create a new, common statistical system for trade between the EU Member States. On 1.01.1993 on the area of the Single European Market INTRASTAT system was introduced. 

Currently in the EU Member States data on foreign trade is obtained from two statistical systems operating in a parallel way:

1. EXTRASTAT system, covering with its range trade of EU member states with so called “third countries” (e.g. non – member countries)
2. INTRASTAT system, covering trade between EU Member States and based on data obtained from INTRASTAT declarations.