U.S. companies exporting goods to Canada must comply with a range of federal and provincial regulations related to product labeling, packaging, and marketing claims. These rules are designed to ensure consumer protection, support fair competition, and uphold Canadian language and product safety standers. Quebec, Canada’s second-largest province and key economic hub, passed Bill 96 in 2022, significantly expanding French language requirements. They are now more stringent than federal standards.  Failure to comply can result in customs delays, fines, product seizure, or removal from the market. 

At the federal level, Canada enforces uniform labeling requirements through several key agencies:

• Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA): Requires imported goods to be properly marked with their country of origin. Products such as apparel, hardware, and consumer goods must include a legible indication, e.g., “Made in the USA,” to be released from customs.
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Regulates food labeling through its Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising. The guide outlines standards for ingredient lists, nutrition facts, allergen declarations, and permitted health claims. U.S. food exporters should note that Canadian standards differ from U.S. guidelines in areas such as serving sizes, daily values, and permissible fortification.
• Competition Bureau of Canada: Oversees labeling in textiles and apparel, including fiber content, dealer identification numbers, and care instructions under the Textile Labelling Act and Regulations. Labels must be bilingual and compliant with metric system requirements.
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): Enforces regulations around environmental claims. Labels that describe products as “environmentally friendly,” “compostable,” or “biodegradable” must be accurate, clearly defined, and substantiated. Ambiguous or misleading claims are prohibited.

Labeling Requirements for Consumer Goods in Canada

U.S. exporters should be aware that Canada has strict federal labeling requirements for consumer products. The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (CPLA) mandates that most consumer goods sold in Canada display specific information in both English and French, ensuring transparency and consumer protection across the country.

The following elements must appear clearly and legibly on the label or package of prepackaged consumer goods:
1. Product Identity Declaration
This describes the product’s common or generic name, or its function (e.g., “shampoo,” “cleaning spray”). It must appear in both English and French on the principal display panel and be easily readable at the time of purchase.

2. Net Quantity Declaration
The amount of product must be displayed in metric units:

• Liquids, gases, or viscous products: volume (e.g., milliliters, liters)
• Solids: weight (e.g., grams, kilograms)
• Items sold by count: numerical quantity

In certain cases, supplementary declarations in U.S. customary units or established trade terms may be permitted, but metric units are required.

3. Dealer’s Name and Principal Place of Business
This identifies the manufacturer, packager, or importer responsible for the product in Canada. The name and a postal-addressable location must be included—either in English or French. This information is typically used for accountability and consumer inquiries.
Full details on the CPLA and related regulations can be found on the Government of Canada’s website: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-38/page-1.html

In addition to federal Canadian labeling requirements, U.S. exporters should be aware that the Province of Quebec enforces distinct and stricter language regulations under the Charter of the French Language and Bill 96: An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec, which became law on June 1, 2022. These rules require that all consumer products sold in Quebec feature labeling, instructions, and marketing materials in French. This includes product names and descriptions, lists of ingredients or components, safety warnings, directions for use, warranty terms, and any related documentation such as user guides or promotional inserts. While other languages, such as English, may appear on packaging, French must be at least equally prominent and, in many cases, markedly predominant in terms of size and visibility.

Quebec’s language laws also extend beyond physical packaging. Public signage in retail environments, advertising, and digital content directed at Quebec consumers—such as e-commerce websites and customer service communications—must also be available in French. Under Bill 96, new measures will require French to appear on trademarks unless they are officially registered in another language, and the province has expanded enforcement powers and penalties for non-compliance. These provisions are being phased in, but U.S. companies are advised to begin preparing now to meet the new obligations, particularly if they maintain a digital or physical presence in Quebec.

There are limited exemptions to these French-language requirements. Products not intended for direct sale to Quebec consumers—such as goods imported solely for incorporation into final assemblies, use in manufacturing processes, repair, or transformation—may be exempt. However, these exemptions apply only in narrowly defined circumstances and exporters should maintain documentation to prove the product’s intended use.

In June 2024, the United States engaged with Canada on Quebec’s Bill 96 at the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade meeting. The United States encouraged the Quebec provincial government to take into consideration business sector concerns and involve businesses in the drafting of further interpretive guidance on this law and the Final Regulation.

For more information, U.S. exporters are encouraged to consult the Office Québécois de la langue française (OQLF), https://www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/charte/changementslegislatifs/, which provides official guidance on language obligations. Exporters should also seek professional legal advice to ensure full compliance before entering the Quebec market.

For additional information about labeling and marking in Canada, please contact Connie Irrera, Senior Commercial Specialist, connie.irrera@trade.gov at the U.S. Commercial Service Office at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal.