Electronic data transmission

(1) Insofar as bodies performing functions of public administration transmit data by means of standardised electronic data-exchange formats, these must also be used when transmitting the data to be collected for a federal statistic. Otherwise, electronic procedures are to be used as agreed between the statistical offices and the bodies concerned.
(2) Where electronic procedures are made available to establishments and undertakings for transmitting the data to be collected for a federal statistic, they are obliged to use these procedures. To avoid undue hardship, the competent body may, on application, permit an exception.
(3) An encryption procedure corresponding to the state of the art must be used for electronic transmission.