As "Made In Canada" Claims Make A Comeback, Be Mindful Of Labelling Laws

Scroll through any social media these days and the groundswell of support to "Buy Canadian" is everywhere — especially when it comes to grocery items. "Buy French's Ketchup and give Heinz the boot," says one social media post. "Choose Old Dutch potato chips and give Lay's a pass," says another.

In response to the tariff threats from the U.S., Canadian consumers are demanding transparency from suppliers and retailers about the Canadian-ness of the products on store shelves. "Made in Canada" claims have legal meaning and ignoring those rules could lead to civil or administrative penalties.

The Rules

Businesses are not required to make "Made in Canada" claims, but when they do, there are guidelines they should follow to avoid running afoul of the competition laws. When manufacturers or retailers use the phrase "Product of Canada", they should ensure that the content is almost exclusively Canadian. The guidelines recommend meeting a 98% Canadian content