Beginning in 2007, Canada will be the first country to track trade data on organic products. The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, made that statement during the launch of a related four-year pilot project.

"Canada’s New Government recognizes the importance of the organic industry," said Minister Strahl. "It’s a growing sector of the global economy and Canada is well-positioned to be a world leader in organic agricultural production."

There is an initial list of 41 organic agricultural commodities that will be coded. Additional products and varieties will be integrated over the subsequent years of the pilot project. The aim is to develop a full list of codes to track both import and export trade in all significant organic agricultural products, and to help the industry determine market potential.

Statistics Canada classifies and publishes export and import statistics according to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, known as the Harmonized System. This is an international commodity classification developed under the auspices of the Customs Cooperation Council.

According to industry figures, Canadian exports of organic foods are conservatively estimated at more than $250 million annually.

The launch of this Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada funded pilot project is a result of collaboration between Statistics Canada, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada’s organic industry.

Clients will be able to track these commodities on line through the Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database (www.statcan.ca/trade/scripts/trade_search.cgi).

Information on specific tariff listings is available from the Canada Border Services Agency at Customs Tariff 2007 (www.cbsa.gc.ca/general/publications/tariff2007/01-99/table-e.html).