1. Statistical Classifications in FAO Statistical System
Valentina Ramaschiello
Office of the Chief Statistician
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Meeting of the Expert Group on International Statistical Classifications
New York, 6-8 September 2017

2. Statistics at FAO
decentralized statistical system at Headquarters (Rome), Region, Country level
major statistics divisions at HQs are in 3 Departments: Economic and Social Development, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Forestry
21 SDG indicators owned by FAO that are compiled by a number of teams in all Departments
priority given to the harmonization and coordination of statistics in FAO, through:
introduction of overhauled statistics accountability framework
development and implementation of corporate Quality Assurance Framework
preparation of corporate Statistical Programme of Work
appointment of Chief Statistician and creation of a corporate Office

3. Classifications at FAO
Harmonization of standards used in FAO and increased use of international classification is priorioty, but required:
IN THE ORGANIZATION
to raise awareness and to develop a “culture” as “active users”
developed CPC expanded for agriculture
CPC and HS introduced in main statistical databases
WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
to review international classifications for FAO needs
most recently: HS, CPC and COICOP
WITH MEMEBER COUNTRIES
to promote the use of international classification to integrate agricultural statistics into national statistical system
developed guideliens on classifications for ARS
Raise awareness: particularly on CPC, and more recently COICOP - HS more widely used but assistance provided due to a lack of in depth knowledge about it
To develop a “culture” as “active users” able to influence the standard, and not only being passive users

4. Where we stand and future plan
Today: CPC expanded used for collecting and disseminating data on production and producer prices of crops, livestock and derived products
Correspondences to CPC also added in other domains in main databases as additional reference
For FAO classifications that serve as the main reference, endorsement is seeked as:
new member of the Family by EG
international standard by UNSC
Ultimate goal: more and more widely used by countries and other organizations
Today: CPC expanded is used for collecting and disseminating data on production and producer prices of crops, livestock and derived products
Correspondence CPC has also been added in other domains in FAPSTAT and Fishstat as an additional reference while the main reference remain FAO standards
For these a new apprach is envisaged the vision is to bring them out of the FAO boundaries, and to see them recognized as member of the International Family by EG and endorsed as international standard by UNSC with the goal to have them more and more widely used by countries and other organizations
Aware of the revised item (speed up the finalization of that piece of work), do not expect the discussion to happen now; the goal is rather to inform you about their existence and start increasing visibility outside the relspective subject-matter expert communities, stimulate discussion during intersession so that when criterial will be finalized the classifications will be easily evaluated and hopefully endorsed as new members of the family with the plan to submit them to unsc 2019

5. FAO
classification
system

6. CPC HS
WCA2020
classifications of:
crops
livestock
machinery & equipment
ASFIS (species)
ISSCFC (commodies)
ISSCFV (vessels)
ISSCFG (gears)
FAO classification of forest products

7. FAO World Census of Agriculture classification system
in the field
(holding)
production
(production, prices)
product
(trade)
HS, FCL
FAO World Census of Agriculture classification system
CPC, FCL

8. FAO World Census of Agriculture classification system
WCA methodology is published every 10 years by FAO since the 1950s (current version: WCA 2020)
includes a classifications on crops, livestock, machinery (and land use) to help countries conduct agricultural censuses
common statistical unit: agricultural holding
countries are encouraged to further expand or customize the classifications structure provided based on national needs
while maintaining specificities for censuses, classifications are periodically reviewed and updated to align with major international standards such as CPC, ISIC and HS, to:
allow linkage to other data sources (such as the population censuses and surveys)
enable the integration of statistics from agricultural censuses into the national statistical system

9. Fisheries & Aquaculture
live species
product
trade
ISSCAAP
ASFIS
ISSCFC
ISSCFC, HS

10. Fisheries & Aquaculture
vessels
gears
ISSCVF
ISSCFG

11. FAO fisheries classifications
FAO: only source of global fisheries and aquaculture statistics
classifications system and structure agreed with the Coordinating Working Party on Fisheries Statistics (CWP)
since 1960, provides a mechanism for the coordination of fishery statistical programs of regional fishery bodies and other inter-governmental organizations whose remit relates to fishery statistics.
sets standard concepts, definitions, classifications and methodologies for the collection and collation of fishery statistics
for better monitoring the trends of the fishery sector, it is important that statistics are precise and focused on the identity of fish species: thus, the classifications used by FAO are very detailed

12. FAO classification of forest products
Forestry
live species
product
trade
n/a
FAO classification of forest products HS

13. Classification of forest products
Developed and maintained by the Joint Intersecretariat Working Group of Forest Sector Statistics (IWG) consisting of Eurostat, FAO, ITTO and UNECE (and OECD observing member)
IWG meets once a year, it jointly collects global statistics through the annual Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire where FAO CFP is used
First version of the FAO CFP: 1973; second: 1982
2015: FAO proposal to update the classification made to the 28th IWG Meeting in Yokohama (Japan), noting that there was a need reflect new wood products that have appeared in the markets over the last decades as well as to align it with the most recent version of CPC and HS.

14. Classification of forest products
Review started in October 2015, global consultation carried out in 2016 and 2017
Co-funded by FAO and the GSARS
Classification scope: primary and secondary wood and paper products, including new wood-based products that have more recently appeared in the market
Groups selected to cover each principal stage of operation from the initial felling of the tree to the manufacture of the primary product suitable for consumption or further conversion. It takes into account the fact that the by-products from one stage of operation may be used as the raw material for another.
draft of “Forest Products Classification and Definitions” (2016)

15. EG contribution
seek for endorsement as soon as the new criteria to become a member of the Family will be approved
receive comments on the draft of “Forest Products Classification and Definitions” (2016) before it gets released
have the EG view on the steps to be followed to submit FAO classifications to UNSC (2019)