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Food labelling requirements checklist

The following checklist is a self-assessment tool to help industry understand labelling requirements set out in the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) and Regulations and the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and Regulations.

The checklist only covers core labelling requirements applicable to all foods. For more information on voluntary claims or statements and commodity specific labelling requirements, visit the Industry Labelling Tool.

Labelling requirements checklist disclaimer: Adherence to the labelling requirements checklist does not preclude the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from taking regulatory action in cases of non-compliance to regulatory and legislative labelling requirements. This publication is not a legal document. The user is encouraged to consult the official version of the applicable legislation in the FDA and in the SFCA for the purposes of interpreting and applying the law. The labelling requirements checklist was last modified in March 2024.

Labelling requirements

Common name

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on common name.

Net quantity declaration

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on Net quantity.

List of ingredients and allergen labelling

Location

Presentation

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on list of ingredients and allergens labelling.

Name and principal place of business

Imported product

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on name and principal place of business.

Date markings

"Best before" date

"Packaged on" date

Storage instructions

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for more information on food-specific labelling requirements.

Expiration date

Legibility and availability

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on date markings.

Nutrition labelling

Nutrition Facts table (NFt)

Note: When ADS is less than 100 cm2, a small package NFt exemption may apply to products that qualify for a free of sugars claim provided certain additional requirements are met.

Location/orientation

Format

Contents

Graphical and technical requirements

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on nutrition labelling.

Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol

Location

Format and specifications

Refer to Health Canada's Front-of-package nutrition symbol labelling guide for industry and to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on front-of-package nutrition symbol labelling.

Bilingual requirements

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on bilingual labelling.

Irradiation

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on irradiated foods.

Sweeteners (in addition to list of ingredients requirements)

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on sweeteners.

Country of origin

Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for further information on country of origin labelling.

Notes

Date modified: