note: Best NAICS search engine may be at statcan.gc.ca
http://stds.statcan.gc.ca/naics-scian/2007/ns-rn-eng.asp
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The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
NAICS was developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. It was developed jointly by the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee (ECPC), Statistics Canada
, and Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia , to allow for a high level of comparability in business statistics among the North American countries.
http://www.ntis.gov/products/naics.aspx
NAICS will reshape the way we view our changing economy
Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has officially replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The NAICS provides a consistent system for economic analysis across the three North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The 2007 edition includes all of the Economic Classification Policy Committee recommendations for revision (presented in a March 11, 2005 Federal Register notice FR 70 12390-12399), with the exception of treatment of real estate investment trusts.
NAICS provides a consistent framework for the collection, analysis and dissemination of industrial statistics used by: