Release date: April 20, 2021 (Previous notice)
Introduction
The consultation in question was related to the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada revisions for 2022. The revised classification will be NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0.
NAPCS Canada is Statistics Canada's primary classification for products and is widely used throughout business programs at Statistics Canada, in academia, and in business.
Statistics Canada updates NAPCS Canada on a 5-year revision cycle. The next revisions to this classifications are scheduled to be released in February, 2022.
The purpose of the consultation was to solicit input from users of NAPCS Canada on revisions for the classifications. These revisions may include any element of the classifications including the structure of the classification, wording of definitions, and examples and exclusions attached to classes. The input of business, government, academia and private citizens in updating NAPCS Canada users is valued so that they meet the needs of users.
This report summarizes the feedback received from the consultation. The consultation process and period is described below.
Consultation overview
The purpose of the consultation was to solicit comments from data producers and users, representatives of business associations, government bodies at the federal, provincial and local levels, academics and researchers and all other interested parties to submit proposals for the revision to NAPCS Canada. The revised version will be called NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0. User input is highly valued by Statistics Canada in updating NAPCS Canada so that it continues to meet user needs.
The consultation was conducted electronically through public announcements that described the upcoming NAPCS Canada revisions, listed the types of inputs sought, provided a timeline for the consultation and gave contact information for users to make submissions and contact Statistics Canada with questions and comments. The announcements were disseminated through the Statistics Canada's website (Consulting Canadians and DDSM), and Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Reddit, as well as GCConnex.
The type of feedback requested included any proposed changes to NAPCS Canada and how they classify products. These might be changes to the structure of the classification (i.e. addition of classes or deletion of classes), changes to the wording of definitions, and changes to examples, inclusion and exclusions.
Interested parties were invited to submit written proposals to Statistics Canada. The official public consultation period started in November 2019 and closed at the end of June 2020.
Statistics Canada received responses by e-mail. These responses consisted of written descriptions of the desired changed to NAPCS Canada for 2022, including structures, definitions, examples, inclusions, and exclusions.
Summary of Feedback
Staff from the Centre for Statistical and Data Standards (formerly Office of Privacy Management and Information Coordination) at Statistics Canada managed the responses to the public consultation announcement. These responses were all received by e-mail.
Among all the proposals received for NAPCS Canada 2022, all requests for changes were submitted by various statistical programs within Statistics Canada, none was received from external parties. This was not unexpected since NAPCS Canada is growing yet still not widely used outside of Statistics Canada.
Of the changes received internally for NAPCS Canada, there were about 170 issues identified. Most of them are small changes, such as changes to examples. The larger issues included updating cannabis products to reflect regulations, cloud computing services, building and infrastructure products, electric vehicles, recycled and biodegradable plastics, electronic cigarettes and research and development services.
Next steps
Statistics Canada is still in the process of reviewing proposals for NAPCS Canada 2022. It is expected that this work will be completed by June 2021. A public notice containing the final approved proposal for changes will be available by August 2021. NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0 will be released in February 2022.