CanadaWhat are the rules for product labelling in Canada — does everything need to be in both English and French?
Yes, most prepackaged products sold in Canada must have labels in both English and French, with required information including net quantity in metric units.
What the Law Says
Canada’s federal Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act sets mandatory labelling rules for prepackaged products sold to consumers. These rules ensure clarity, safety, and linguistic equality across the country.
The law applies to all dealers — meaning anyone who sells, imports, or advertises a prepackaged product in Canada. A 'prepackaged product' is one that is packaged in advance of sale and not altered before being sold to the consumer.
Labels must include several key elements: the product’s common name, the net quantity (in metric units only), the dealer’s name and principal place of business, and any required safety or usage information.
Crucially, all mandatory label information must appear in both official languages — English and French — and in comparable type size and prominence. This ensures accessibility for all Canadian consumers.
Statutory TextNo dealer shall sell a prepackaged product unless the label contains required information.
— Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, s. 4 — Prohibition respecting labels
Statutory TextLabels must contain a declaration of net quantity in metric units.
— Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, s. 10 — Net quantity declaration
What to Do
Ensure your product label includes the common name, net quantity (e.g., '500 g'), dealer information, and any required warnings — all in both English and French.
Use metric units only for net quantity (e.g., grams, millilitres, kilograms); imperial units are not permitted as the primary declaration.
Verify that bilingual text appears in equal prominence — same font size, placement, and legibility.
Confirm compliance before importing, manufacturing, or selling — non-compliant labels may result in rejection, fines, or recall.
Consult Health Canada’s guidance documents or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for product-specific rules (e.g., food, cosmetics, natural health products).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.