Canada Product Labeling Requirements: An Overview

Understanding labeling requirements is essential for Canadian importers and manufacturers. In this guide, we cover the Textile Labeling Act (TLA), children’s product labeling, electronics labeling, CSA marks, language requirements, and more.

Textile Labeling Act (TLA)

The Textile Labeling Act sets out labeling requirements for apparel and textile products. In general, the content must be written in at least two languages (English and French), unless there is only one official language in the selling area.

In the following sections, we explain what must be included in the textile labels.

Fiber Content

Importers and manufacturers must include the fiber content on the label of their textile products. Specifically, for any material that amounts to more than 5% of the total fiber content, you should include its generic name with the percentage of content; otherwise, you can use the term “other fiber”.

Example

• 97% Cotton/Coton
• 3% Other fiber/Autre fibre

Traceability

The label must also include information that identifies the importer or the manufacturer, with the aim of tracking the product in case of problems. Here is some example of information that are usually used to ensure product traceability:

• Importer or manufacturer’s name
• Importer or manufacturer’s address
• Importer or manufacturer’s contact details
• Product identification number (model number or SKU)

Instead of affixing your company’s name and address, you can also choose to use a CA number, which identifies your company and can be required by applying to the Competition Bureau.

The CA number includes the letters CA followed by 5 digits, for example, CA12345.

Placement

The Textile Labeling Act requires that the label should be attached to the products in a visible format. Also, consumers should easily access the label without any difficulties. For example, a t-shirt’s label could be located at the center of the back neck, as this is the industry standard.

Note that yous might also need to include the label information on the packaging.

Children’s Products Labeling

The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act sets out labeling requirements for children’s products such as pacifiers, or toys. In general, importers and manufacturers must provide “sufficient information” on the product’s labels in order to ensure product safety. This might include traceability information and warning labels.

Although the information that must be included is not specified, here are some examples:

• Importer or manufacturer’s name
• Importer or manufacturer’s address
• Importer or manufacturer’s contact details
• Product identification number (model number or SKU)
• Warning labels

Additional labeling requirements might apply depending on different product types. Below, we cover some specific regulations for three categories of products:

• Toys
• Children’s sleepwear
• Carriages

Toys

Under the Toys Regulations, importers and manufacturers need to affix a warning label if there is any hazard related to the product, including mechanical hazards, electrical hazards, or auditory hazards.

In addition, if importers and manufacturers wish to use a flexible film bag for toys’ packaging, they must include the following statement on the packaging:

“PLASTIC BAGS CAN BE DANGEROUS. TO AVOID DANGER OF SUFFOCATION, KEEP THIS BAG AWAY FROM BABIES AND CHILDREN.

LES SACS DE PLASTIQUE PEUVENT ÊTRE DANGEREUX. POUR ÉVITER LE DANGER DE SUFFOCATION, NE LAISSEZ PAS CE SAC À LA PORTÉE DES BÉBÉS NI DES ENFANTS.”

Children’s Sleepwear

The Children’s Sleepwear Regulations specifies additional labeling requirements for children’s sleepwear, as follows:

a. Importers and manufacturers must affix a clear and visible label for the care of the sleepwear (e.g cleaning procedures)

b. Importers and manufacturers must affix the words “flame retardant” and “ignifugeant” on the label of loose-fitting sleepwear that has been treated with flame retardants

Carriages

The Carriages and Strollers Regulations specify additional labeling requirements for children’s carriages, which include an informative label and a warning label.

The information label must include instructions of assembling, operation, restraint system, and maintenance. Importers and manufacturers should also provide the maximum load and height/weight restriction of the carriages.

The warning label should display the message that the child can never be left in the carriage, and how the child restraint system works. Also, importers and manufacturers must affix a warning to remind users that the carriage may become unstable if a parcel bag is used.

Electronics Labeling

Labeling requirements might apply differently according to the type of electronics product. For example, RSS-Gen labeling for radio devices, and ULC mark for UL compliant products.

RSS-Gen Labeling

The RSS-Gen (General Requirements for Compliance of Radio Apparatus) labeling is applicable to radio devices such as cell phones and wireless modems. In general, each product model must at least include the following information:

a. Product Marketing Name (PMN)

b. Hardware version identification number (HVIN)

c. Firmware Version Identification Number (FVIN)

d. Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) certification number

Importers and manufacturers of devices with an integrated display can choose to include an electronic label to represent product information instead.

Canadian Electrical Code – CSA C22.2

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) established a standard covering the performance requirements of labels used for electrical equipment. It ensures that the adhesive labels or nameplates stay permanently attached to the devices.

ULC Mark

If the products are certified by the UL, then importers or manufacturers obtain the authorization to use ULC Mark on their product. Note that the UL mark used in Canada is different from the one used in the US. Therefore, you must ensure that the correct format of the UL mark.

In general, the mark consists of the following elements:

• ULC symbol
• The word “Listed”
• Product name
• Serial number/control number

CSA Mark

The CSA (Canadian Standards Association) Mark is also widely accepted in Canada. A CSA mark indicates that your products are compliant with applicable standards and requirements, and it mainly applies to electronics products.

It’s optional to get your product CSA certified. You can contact the CSA group to carry out the certification procedure, and then affix the CSA mark on the product..

Traceability

As the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act covers most consumer products, with the exception of the products listed on Schedule 1, also in this case the product label should include traceability information and relevant warning labels:

• Importer or manufacturer’s name
• Importer or manufacturer’s address
• Importer or manufacturer’s contact details
• Product identification number (model number or SKU)
• Warning labels

Furniture Labeling

In this section, we cover the main labeling requirements for furniture.

Textile Labeling Act (TLA)

The Textile Labeling Act also provides the labeling requirement for upholstered furniture and other furniture that might contain fabric that contains fabric, padding, or springs. In general, companies must include a label with the fiber contents and manufacturers’ identity on the products. Notice that each fabric and fabric content must be declared separately on the label.

If the furniture consists of both leather and fabric, importers and manufacturers must include the leather content additionally. Note that the label should be written in English and French.

Here are some examples:

• 100% Polyvinyl Chloride /Chlorure de polyvinyle
• Leather With/ Cuir avec
• Coating/Enduit: 100% Polyvinyl Chloride /Chlorure de polyvinyle

Traceability

Besides this, traceability information should also be included in the label, according to the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act:

• Importer or manufacturer’s name
• Importer or manufacturer’s address
• Importer or manufacturer’s contact details
• Product identification number (model number or SKU)

Food Contact Products Labeling

Importers and manufacturers of food contact products must comply with the requirements of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, and affix an informative label on their products, which must include traceability information such as the manufacturer or importer name and address, a warning label if there is any potential harm or health issue.

Additionally, specific labeling requirements might apply to different products, including the following:

• Intended use of the products
• Chemical/physical properties
• Warning statement (if any)

For example, beverage glass containers must carry the following warning statement in both English and French language.

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“CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. HANDLE WITH CARE.”

“CONTENU SOUS PRESSION. MANIPULER AVEC SOIN.”

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Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act

The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act requires that prepackaged products, defined as any product that is packaged in a container in such a manner that it is ordinarily sold to or used or purchased by a consumer without being re-packaged, must bear accurate and meaningful information on the labeling.

Here some information requirement that might apply to your product labeling:

a. Declaration of net quantity (ie. net weight)

b. The identity of the manufacturer or importer (ie. name and address)

c. The identity of the product (ie. generic name, or functionality)

d. Other relevant information (ie. composition, age, size, country of origin)

Note that labeling must be bilingual (in English and French languages).

Country of Origin

The Marking of Imported Goods Regulations requires a Country of Origin label on products. Here are some examples:

• Made in China
• Made in Vietnam
• Made in France
• Made in Mexico

The country of origin label must be written in both English and French languages. For CUSMA goods, that is goods from Canada, the US, or Mexico, the country of origin must be also indicated in the Spanish language. Also, the marking must be legible and permanent.

Is the CE mark accepted in Canada?

While the CE marking is obligatory for many different categories of products imported or manufactured in the EU, it is not accepted as proof of compliance in Canada.

The reason is that the CE mark is used to state that a given product is compliant with one or more EU CE Directive such as LVD, EMC, or RoHS, and compliance with such as Directives isn’t enough to comply with Canadian requirements, which are different.

Thus, even if your products are already compliant with all relevant CE directives and are CE marked, you still need to comply with Canadian regulations, including labeling requirements.