
Article 1 
The aim of this Regulation is to establish minimum standards for the quality of HICP weightings of the Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices (HICPs).
Article 2 
For the purpose of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

((1)) the ‘weighting reference period’ of an HICP means the 12-month period of consumption or expenditure from which the weights are estimated for the compilation of the latest HICP index figures;
((2)) ‘sub-indices’ mean the sub-indices laid down in Commission Regulation (EC) No 2214/96 of 20 November 1996 concerning harmonised indices of consumer prices: transmission and dissemination of sub-indices of the HICP.
Article 3 

(1) Each month, in current year t, Member States shall produce HICPs using sub-index weights which reflect the consumers’ expenditure pattern in the weighting reference period and aim to be as representative as possible for consumers’ expenditure patterns in the previous calendar year.
(2) Each year, Member States shall therefore review and update HICP sub-index weights taking into account preliminary national accounts data on consumption patterns of year t-2, except in exceptional and in duly motivated circumstances, as well as any available and relevant information from household budget surveys and other data sources which are sufficiently reliable for the purposes of the HICP.
(3) As regards weights below sub-index level, including those for Elementary Product Groups as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1749/96, Member States shall use weights which are in no case more than 7 years old.
(4) Member States shall review annually whether or not there have been any important and sustained market developments affecting quantities in the sub-divisions of COICOP/HICP, between the periods as described in paragraphs 2 and 3 and period t-1, in order to estimate weights that are as up-to-date as possible. Especially, consumption expenditure for sub-divisions of COICOP/HICP with known changes following administrative decisions and for products in fast-evolving markets shall be reviewed.
(5) Any adjustments made to weightings pursuant to this Article shall take effect with the index for January of year t. HICP weights for previous years shall be not revised, without prejudice to the possibility to correct mistakes in accordance with Article 4 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1921/2001 of 28 September 2001 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 as regards minimum standards for revisions of the HICP and amending Regulation (EC) No 2602/2000. In any case, HICP weights shall take effect with the index for January each year and be price-updated to prices of the preceding December.
Article 4 
Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) at its request with sufficient information on the weights used to construct the HICP, including the weighting reference period used, the outcome of the annual review and the adjustments made, for compliance with this Regulation to be evaluated.
Article 5 
The provisions of this Regulation shall take effect with the index for January 2012 at the latest.
Article 6 
Regulation (EC) No 2454/97 is repealed, as from January 2012. References to the repealed Regulation shall be construed as references to this Regulation.
Article 7 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.Done at Brussels, 1 December 2010.
For the Commission
The President
José Manuel BARROSO