Public input sought on “Made in Canada” labelling guidelines

Ottawa has launched a public consultation on the labelling guidelines for “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada.”
“Consumers want to know when their food has a significant amount of Canadian ingredients, so that they make informed decisions and support domestic food producers,” says Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This initiative is an important part of our Food Policy for Canada, and the Buy Canadian Promotion campaign, which will promote the great foods produced by our world-class farmers across the country, and build pride and confidence in our food system.”
The changes proposed to the labeling guidelines seek to improve upon the information available to consumers to identify Canadian food products and make informed purchasing decisions, and are also based on the recommendations following a recent survey of Canada’s food industry, led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The Government of Canada’s online public consultation seeks to gauge Canadians’ support for the proposed changes. Consumers are encouraged to provide their comments by June 23.
Quick facts

• Amending the guidelines for “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” labelling claims would support the Government of Canada’s commitment to enhance business growth and trade, as announced in November 2018
• The amendments will also support the $25 million Buy Canadian Promotion campaign outlined in Budget 2019 as part of the Food Policy for Canada, which aims to promote Canadian agricultural products through advertising and marketing
• The current guidelines for “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” labelling claims came into force in December 2008, following consultations with industry and consumers
• The guidelines promote compliance with the Food and Drug Act and Safe Food for Canadians Act, which prohibit false and misleading claims
• The use of “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” claims is voluntary
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency provides guidance to industry on the use of the claims and enforces the guidelines