Draft - Chapter 4 - Labelling and Guarantees

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Consultation closed

4.1a International/Multilingual Labels

Requests for multi-country/multilingual labelling have been periodically received by the Animal Feed Division. The requests are to include the labelling requirements and languages for foreign countries, in addition to those of Canada, on the same label.

Under the Feeds Act and Regulations, the definition of a label encompasses all the information (including symbols, marks or designs) that is applied or attached to, belonging to or accompanying any feed or package. This includes any details that may be intended for other countries.

Additional label information

The Animal Feed Division is willing to consider extra label information, above and beyond what is required by Canadian regulation. The company producing, importing, or selling the feed must seek registration and supply data to support the usefulness of the additional information. If the extra information is approved, it will have to be the same for all languages.

Additional languages

With regards to multilingual labels, the Feeds Regulations specifies that "any information required to be shown on a label shall be printed conspicuously, legibly and indelibly in English or French or both languages".

The Animal Feed Division is willing to consider additional languages on livestock feed labels. Companies or individuals wishing to add other languages will be required to obtain approval to do so by submitting an Application for Feed Registration with information in support of the fact that all information in each additional language is the same as the information that is present on the label in English and/or French. Such supporting information may be in the form of a notarized certificate of translation. All products with languages other than French and/or English on the label must be registered, even if they would otherwise be exempt from registration. This includes single ingredient feeds listed in Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations.

If inspectors find products with multi-national labels or unregistered livestock feeds with languages other than French and/or English on the label during their inspection activities the product will be considered non-compliant, requiring corrective action.

If a company is uncertain whether their product requires registration, they should contact their local inspector or the Animal Feed Division.