Let our food label compliance consulting services help you grow your business by taking the hassle out of food labelling and food safety compliance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The Canadian food market offers tremendous opportunity for manufacturers and importers, but entering Canada successfully requires understanding and implementing unique regulatory requirements that differ significantly from US and other international standards. The most distinctive Canadian requirement—mandatory bilingual English-French labeling—surprises many first-time exporters to Canada and represents just one element of comprehensive CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regulations. Our Canada food label compliance services are just right for you.
At FTC International, we specialize in Canadian food label compliance, helping businesses navigate CFIA requirements, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), bilingual labeling obligations, and Canadian-specific Nutrition Facts table formatting. Whether you’re a Canadian manufacturer, a US company expanding north, or an international exporter targeting the Canadian market, our expertise ensures your labels meet all CFIA standards.
The Canadian food market offers tremendous opportunity for manufacturers and importers, but entering Canada successfully requires understanding and implementing unique regulatory requirements that differ significantly from US and other international standards. The most distinctive Canadian requirement—mandatory bilingual English-French labeling—surprises many first-time exporters to Canada and represents just one element of comprehensive CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regulations.
At FTC International, we specialize in Canadian food label compliance, helping businesses navigate CFIA requirements, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), bilingual labeling obligations, and Canadian-specific Nutrition Facts table formatting. Whether you’re a Canadian manufacturer, a US company expanding north, or an international exporter targeting the Canadian market, our expertise ensures your labels meet all CFIA standards.
The Bilingual Requirement: Canada’s Defining Labeling Challenge
Bilingual English-French labeling is the most distinctive feature of Canadian food regulations and often the most challenging for newcomers to the Canadian market.
When Bilingual Labeling Is Required:
Mandatory bilingual labeling applies to prepackaged products sold at retail in Canada. This means if consumers can purchase your product directly from store shelves, bilingual labeling is almost certainly required.
Bilingual Exemptions (Limited and Specific):
Some exemptions exist but are narrower than many businesses assume:
Test Market Exemption: Products sold in limited test markets (maximum 12 consecutive months) may be exempt, subject to specific notification requirements and quantity limitations.
Local Products: Certain products manufactured and sold locally within specific geographic areas may qualify for exemptions, but requirements vary by province and product type.
Specialty Store Exemption: Limited exemptions exist for products sold exclusively in stores where French is not commonly used, but this exemption is geographic and product-specific.
Size-Based Exemptions: Very small packages (less than 10 cm² display surface) may have modified bilingual requirements, but this doesn’t eliminate the bilingual obligation entirely.
Most products sold through standard retail channels require full bilingual labeling. We help you determine definitively whether your product qualifies for any exemptions.
What Must Be Bilingual:
Virtually all required label information must appear in both English and French:
Bilingual Formatting Options:
CFIA permits several bilingual presentation formats:
Side-by-Side: English and French text appear adjacent to each other horizontally.
Stacked: English text appears above (or below) French text.
Separate Panel: English information appears on one panel, French on another (common on multi-panel labels).
Combined Format: Different approaches for different label elements (e.g., side-by-side product name but stacked ingredient lists).
Typography requirements apply regardless of format: French text must have equal prominence to English, meaning similar font size, color, and conspicuousness.
Send us your inquiry (if you wish to receive a label quotation, please include a copy of your label files).
Getting French translations right is critical for both regulatory compliance and market acceptance. Poor translations not only risk CFIA non-compliance but can damage brand perception among French-speaking Canadian consumers.
Translation Requirements:
CFIA requires accurate French translations that convey the same meaning as English text. Simply running English text through automated translation tools typically produces awkward or incorrect French that doesn’t meet regulatory or marketing standards.
Canadian French vs. International French:
Canada uses specific conventions for food terminology that may differ from European French. Terms for ingredients, measurements, and food categories often have Canadian-specific forms. Our translators understand these distinctions and ensure your French text reads naturally to Canadian consumers.
Ingredient Name Translation:
Ingredient names require particular attention. CFIA provides approved French translations for many common ingredients, and using standardized terms ensures consistency and compliance. Translating ingredient names incorrectly can create regulatory issues.
Claim Translation:
Marketing claims must be translated accurately without changing meaning or creating unauthorized implications. A claim compliant in English may become non-compliant if poorly translated to French.
We provide or verify French translations for Canadian food labels, ensuring both regulatory compliance and quality French that resonates with Canadian consumers.
Canada’s Nutrition Facts table differs from the US Nutrition Facts panel in format, mandatory nutrients, reference values, and presentation requirements.
Distinctive Canadian NFt Features:
Format Structure: The Canadian table uses a specific linear format with nutrient names in the left column, quantities in the middle, and percentage Daily Values (%DV) in the right column, with prescribed bolding and spacing.
Serving Size Declaration: Serving sizes must be based on CFIA’s Reference Amounts (RAs), expressed in metric units with household measures in parentheses. Canadian RAs differ from FDA RACCs in some product categories.
Bilingual Presentation: The Nutrition Facts table must be fully bilingual. CFIA permits various bilingual formats for the table, including side-by-side, stacked, or separate panel presentations.
Mandatory Nutrients: Canada requires declaration of: Calories, fat (total, saturated, trans), cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate (total, fibre, sugars), protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron—with percentage Daily Values where applicable.
Optional Nutrients: Additional nutrients may be declared voluntarily, but if included must follow CFIA formatting requirements.
Daily Value References: Canada uses different Daily Value reference standards than the US. Percentage DV calculations must use Canadian reference values, not FDA values.
Rounding Rules: CFIA has specific rounding rules for nutrient values that differ from FDA rounding rules.
Format Variations: Different product categories and package sizes may permit or require specific Nutrition Facts table formats (standard, horizontal, linear, simplified, or dual declaration).
Our team ensures your Nutrition Facts tables use correct Canadian formatting, accurate calculations based on Canadian Daily Values, proper bilingual presentation, and appropriate format variations for your product and package size.
While ingredient lists follow similar principles to other jurisdictions (ingredients in descending order by weight), Canadian regulations include specific requirements that differ from US and EU rules.
Canadian Ingredient List Specifics:
Bilingual Presentation: Ingredient lists must be fully bilingual, listing ingredients in descending order by weight in both English and French.
Component Declarations: Certain ingredients must have their components declared in parentheses following the ingredient name. Canadian requirements for component declarations differ somewhat from FDA requirements.
Allergen and Gluten Source Declarations: Canada requires specific formatting for allergen sources. These declarations must identify the allergenic source in parentheses immediately after the ingredient (e.g., “whey (milk)” or “lecithin (soy)”).
Colour Declarations: Food colours must be declared by specific names. Canada uses different naming conventions than the US (e.g., “tartrazine” rather than “FD&C Yellow No. 5”).
Added Vitamins and Minerals: When vitamins or minerals are added to food, they must be declared with specific nomenclature and may require declaration in the Nutrition Facts table.
Grouping Sugar-Based Ingredients: Ingredients that are primarily sugars must be grouped with a quantitative indication when multiple sugar sources are present in certain products.
We review your complete ingredient list for Canadian compliance, including proper bilingual presentation, correct component declarations, compliant allergen source identification, and Canadian-specific nomenclature.
Canada identifies eleven priority food allergens plus gluten sources that must be clearly declared on labels.
Canada’s Priority Allergens:
Canadian Allergen Declaration Format:
Canada requires allergen sources to be declared in parentheses immediately following the ingredient that contains them. This “source-within-parentheses” format applies throughout the ingredient list wherever allergenic ingredients appear.
“Contains” Statements:
Unlike the US where “Contains” statements are an alternative to parenthetical declarations, in Canada “Contains” statements are supplementary. You may include them for consumer convenience, but they don’t replace the requirement for source declarations in the ingredient list itself.
Gluten Source Declarations:
Canada requires explicit identification of gluten sources. If an ingredient contains wheat, barley, rye, oats, or triticale, the source must be declared even if the ingredient name might imply gluten content.
Precautionary Statements:
“May contain” statements are voluntary in Canada and not regulated by CFIA. If used, they should be accurate and not serve as a substitute for good manufacturing practices.
Our allergen review ensures all priority allergens and gluten sources are declared using Canadian-compliant formatting, source declarations appear correctly in the ingredient list, and supplementary “Contains” statements (if used) are properly formatted.
Our founder and CEO, has over 36 years of experience in the food industry and is dedicated to helping businesses succeed through product development and regulatory compliance.
Our food safety expert, has a deep understanding of the complex regulations governing the food industry and can help ensure your products are safe and compliant.
Our regulatory compliance specialist, stays up-to-date on the latest regulations and can provide guidance to help ensure your products meet all necessary requirements.
Our product development consultant, can assist with all aspects of product development, from ideation to commercialization.
Our technical writing expert, can provide grant application writing and scientific reports to support your business goals.
Canada requires metric declarations for net quantity, though dual declarations with imperial units are common.
Canadian Net Quantity Requirements:
Metric-First Requirement: The metric measurement must appear first or be more prominent than any imperial measurement, though many Canadian products show only metric.
Unit Specifications: Use grams (g) or kilograms (kg) for weight, millilitres (mL) or litres (L) for volume, with specific thresholds for when to switch units.
Bilingual Presentation: The word “net” must appear bilingually (e.g., “Net / net” or the individual words “Net” and “poids net”).
Principal Display Panel Placement: Net quantity must appear on the principal display panel in the bottom 50% of the panel (different from the US requirement of bottom 30%).
Height Requirements: Minimum text height depends on principal display panel size, with specific requirements in CFIA regulations.
Canadian products require appropriate common names or descriptive names on the principal display panel.
Canadian Identity Standards:
Prescribed Common Names: For products with compositional standards under Canadian regulations, you must use the prescribed common name (e.g., “Ice Cream,” “Peanut Butter,” “Maple Syrup”).
Descriptive Names: Products without prescribed names require clear descriptive names that accurately characterize the product.
Bilingual Requirement: Product names must be bilingual on the principal display panel with equal prominence for English and French.
Fanciful Names: If using brand names or fanciful terms, the common name must still be clearly presented and not obscured by marketing language.
Canada has specific requirements for nutrient content claims, health claims, and marketing statements.
Canadian Claims Regulations:
Nutrient Content Claims: Claims like “source of fibre,” “low in fat,” or “high in protein” have precise regulatory definitions under Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations. Canadian definitions differ from US FDA definitions.
Health Claims: Canada authorizes specific health claims through regulations. These relate diet to health conditions and require exact wording and specific conditions. Examples include claims about calcium and osteoporosis or plant sterols and blood cholesterol.
Function Claims: Claims about the role of nutrients in maintaining health are regulated but don’t require pre-approval if compliant with regulations.
Organic Claims: Regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Canada Organic Regime, requiring certification and compliance with Canadian organic standards.
“Product of Canada” Claims: Specific rules govern when you can claim “Product of Canada” or “Made in Canada” based on processing and ingredient origin.
We help you identify permissible claims for the Canadian market, ensure claims meet Canadian regulatory definitions, and verify French translations maintain claim compliance.
While CFIA regulations apply nationally, regional differences exist:
Quebec: As a predominantly French-speaking province, Quebec consumers expect high-quality French on labels. Poor French translations can significantly impact market acceptance even if technically compliant.
Provincial Requirements: Some provinces have additional requirements for specific product categories (e.g., dairy products in some provinces).
Retail Standards: Major Canadian retailers often have their own compliance standards beyond CFIA minimums, particularly for private label products.
Importing food products into Canada involves additional considerations beyond standard CFIA labeling requirements:
Import Compliance Elements:
Safe Food for Canadians License: Importers must hold appropriate SFCR licenses to import food products for sale in Canada.
Country of Origin: Imported products may require country of origin declarations depending on product type and whether origin is a mandatory marking requirement.
Importer Information: Labels must include the name and principal place of business of the dealer (which for imported products is typically the importer, distributor, or Canadian representative).
CFIA Import Inspection: Certain products are subject to CFIA inspection at ports of entry where non-compliant labeling can result in detention or refusal of entry.
Our experience reveals frequent pitfalls for companies new to the Canadian market:
Inadequate Bilingual Labeling: Assuming bilingual exemptions apply when they don’t, or providing poor-quality French translations that technically meet requirements but damage brand perception.
Using US Nutrition Facts Format: Simply applying the US Nutrition Facts panel format without adapting to Canadian table requirements, bilingual presentation, and Canadian Daily Values.
Incorrect Allergen Declarations: Failing to use parenthetical source declarations in the ingredient list, or assuming US “Contains” statement practices meet Canadian requirements.
Non-Metric Net Quantity: Presenting imperial measurements more prominently than metric, or omitting metric entirely.
Unauthorized Claims: Using US claim language that doesn’t comply with Canadian nutrient content claim regulations or health claim requirements.
Inadequate French Translations: Using automated translations that produce grammatically correct but idiomatically awkward French that signals lack of attention to the Canadian market.
CFIA conducts inspections of Canadian food facilities and monitors import compliance at borders. Non-compliant labels trigger various enforcement actions:
Compliance Verification Letters: CFIA issues written notices identifying labeling violations and requiring corrective action.
Detention and Refusal: Non-compliant imported products may be detained pending relabeling or refused entry entirely.
Recalls: Serious violations, particularly those affecting allergen declarations or creating health hazards, can require recalls with significant financial and reputational consequences.
License Implications: SFCR license holders face potential license actions for persistent non-compliance.
Most Canadian labeling violations are preventable with proper review before market entry.
When you engage FTC International for Canadian food label compliance, you receive comprehensive bilingual expertise:
We Review:
We Provide:
Already compliant in other markets? We can help you adapt:
From US to Canada: We identify differences between FDA and CFIA requirements and guide efficient adaptation of US labels for Canadian compliance.
From Canada to Other Markets: Understanding Canadian requirements provides a strong foundation for international expansion. Explore our other services:
Ready to enter the Canadian market or ensure your existing Canadian labels meet CFIA requirements? Contact FTC International today.
Our Canadian regulatory specialists provide practical, business-oriented guidance that helps you navigate bilingual requirements, CFIA regulations, and the unique aspects of Canadian food labeling. Whether you’re launching your first Canadian product or reviewing an existing portfolio, we ensure your labels meet Canadian standards.
Protect your Canadian market access with expert CFIA compliance guidance. Let us help you get it right the first time—before you print and before you ship.
Send us your inquiry (if you wish to receive a label quotation, please include a copy of your label files).