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20.8. It is good practice to adopt several formats and means of dissemination to ensure that data and metadata are delivered efficiently to all user groups. In that connection, it is advised to make the most use of electronic databases for the following reasons: (a) to allow free and equal access to all users to any data record considered part of the official trade in services statistics, (b) to store and deliver to users extensive metadata and a broad knowledge base and (c) to allow users to make queries easily with a user-friendly interface throughout the database and to download query results in the most commonly used electronic data formats. It is also recommended that statistical agencies consider the application of SDMX standards in the dissemination of data and its accompanying metadata in order to ensure consistency and coherence.
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