A control method for collecting traffic statistics includes a control node obtains a statistics collection instruction, where the statistics collection instruction is used to instruct to collect traffic statistics of a target data flow, generates a traffic statistics collection policy according to the statistics collection instruction, where the traffic statistics collection policy includes a matching identifier of the target data flow, a first command, and a second command, and sends the traffic statistics collection policy to a forwarding node. The first command is used to instruct the forwarding node to set a traffic identifier for the target data flow based on the matching identifier, the second command is used to instruct the forwarding node to add traffic generated by a target packet to a traffic statistics collection result corresponding to the traffic identifier which is used to describe the traffic of the target data flow.