Defining "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada"

Starting December 31, 2008, the federal government tightened up the criteria for using the claims "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" on food labels and in food advertising. It did this as part of its Canadian Food Labelling Initiative.

The purpose of this initiative is to:

• clarify what these terms mean; and
• prevent them from being used deceptively.

In most cases, "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" claims are voluntary. Food companies can choose to promote Canadian content and their commitment to Canadian jobs, as long as the claims are truthful and not misleading.

Product of Canada

A food can only be labelled as a "Product of Canada" if all or virtually all ingredients, processing and labour that go into it are Canadian.

The product can contain minor ingredients that are not available here, such as:

• spices
• food additives
• vitamins
• minerals
• flavourings

Ingredients that come from outside Canada can be present in small quantities (generally less than 2%). This includes items such as:

• oranges
• chocolate
• coffee

Made in Canada

A food can be labelled Made in Canada with domestic and imported ingredients if it is processed in Canada but contains a significant amount of foreign ingredients.

If all the ingredients are imported, the product's label can say Made in Canada from imported ingredients.

Companies whose foods do not qualify for the "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada" claim, but who want to use another type of Canadian content claim to highlight Canadian content or Canadian value added, can do so, as long as the claim is not false or misleading. For example:

• Distilled in Canada on the label of a spirit made from imported ingredients.
• Roasted and blended in Canada on a bag of coffee beans, which are not grown in Canada.

All food sold in Canada, wherever it is produced, must meet Canadian food safety standards. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that the products they sell, as well as their ingredients, meet all federal requirements.

You may also be interested in the following:

Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising

Labelling and Advertising Decisions, Questions and Answers

Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Foods: Labelling of Novel Foods Derived Through Genetic Engineering