The Office for Statistics Regulation has released the latest edition of the Code of Practice for Statistics (edition 3.0) on 30 October 2025. It is available on the Code website in html and as a PDF download.
A summary is provided showing the main differences between edition 3.0 and 2.1. A mapping spreadsheet enables a more detailed look at the changes.
OSR would like to thank all those who enagaged with us throughout the consultation and wider refresh period.
Key goals
Everyone producing or using data or statistics can benefit from understanding and applying the core principles of the Code: Trustworthiness, Quality and Value (TQV).
In refreshing the Code our aim is to ensure the universality and content of the Code is clear to a wide range of audiences – producers of official statistics, other analysts within and beyond government, users of statistics and other stakeholders with an interest in statistics, as well as members of the public and OSR itself, as the statistics regulator.
As well as providing a clear explanation of the core framework underpinning the Code, our aim is to ensure our expectations of producers of official statistics and others working in organisations that produce official statistics are plain and actionable. This includes expectations from our Intelligent Transparency guidance, which covers communication of all statistics, data, and wider analysis in Government.
This aim will be delivered through providing clear standards for the production and use of official statistics and accessible guidance to support implementation of these standards.
Putting it into practice
We are considering ways to present the TQV standards for official statistics, as well as for other settings.
As part of this, we are looking at the online presentation of the Code and supporting guidance, aiming to design ways to deliver information targeted to areas of practice, alongside tools for specific audiences. This approach should give a clear steer on what it looks like to show the TQV standards, supported by good practice examples.
Stages of the refresh
Below we have set out seven steps that will take us to a new version of the Code. The stages overlap as we will continue to develop material for the new version of the Code during testing. Planned timings are set out below however these may be subject to change.
- Identifying the problem: the Code Review, Sep 2023 – Feb 2024
- Generating ideas: Mar – May 2024
- Development of options and test material: May – July 2024
- Testing: June – Sep 2024
- Public Code consultation proposals and stakeholder engagement: 26 Oct 2024 – 14 Feb 2025
- Review of consultation, preparation of findings paper, updating the draft Code : Feb – April 2025
- Review with stakeholders, completion and sign-off of the refreshed Code: May-August 2025
- Preparation for implementation: September-October 2025
- Publication of Code 3.0: late October
- Promotion of the Code: from November 2025
Email:
regulation@statistics.gov.uk
for more information
