Canadian Packaging Regulations: Bilingual Labelling, EPR and Plastics Rules for Brands

Canada is an attractive market for brands already selling in the United States, but its packaging rules are different in important ways. Labels must usually be bilingual, Quebec adds its own French-language requirements, and packaging recycling is funded through provincial extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs rather than a single national system.

This guide gives brand owners and packaging buyers a practical overview of what to plan for when designing custom packaging for Canada. It is general information, not legal advice. Regulations change, so always confirm current requirements with a Canadian regulatory specialist or your importer before finalizing artwork.

1. Federal Labelling: The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act

Most prepackaged non-food consumer products sold in Canada fall under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and its regulations, administered with the Competition Bureau. Food products are covered by the Food and Drugs Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Cosmetics, natural health products and other regulated categories have their own additional rules.

For typical consumer products, key requirements include:

• Product identity: The common or generic name of the product.
• Net quantity: Declared in metric units (such as g, kg, mL, L or count), usually on the principal display panel.
• Dealer identity: The name and principal place of business of the manufacturer or the Canadian company for whom the product is made.
• Bilingual text: Mandatory information generally has to appear in both English and French.

2. Bilingual English-French Packaging

Bilingual labelling is the single biggest design change for brands entering Canada. In practice it means:

• Planning panel space for two languages from the start, rather than squeezing French in at the end.
• Deciding whether to use one bilingual design for Canada or a single North American design that carries English and French (and sometimes Spanish) together.
• Using professional French translation. Machine translation errors on packaging look unprofessional and can create compliance problems.
• Checking type sizes: French text often runs 15 to 20 percent longer than English, which affects minimum legible font sizes.

For brands with many SKUs, a common approach is a bilingual master box with shared artwork plus a variable sticker or sleeve for SKU-specific details.

3. Quebec’s French-Language Requirements

Quebec’s Charter of the French Language applies on top of federal rules. Recent amendments (commonly referred to as Bill 96) tightened the requirements, with rules on product inscriptions and trademarks taking effect in 2025. Broadly:

• Inscriptions on products and packaging sold in Quebec must be in French, and any other language must not be given greater prominence.
• Generic or descriptive words inside a trademark may need to be translated into French.
• Exceptions for registered trademarks in another language are narrower than before.

If Quebec is an important market, have your packaging reviewed specifically for Quebec compliance, not just general federal bilingual rules.

4. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by Province

Canada has no single national packaging EPR system. Instead, provinces run their own programs, which make “producers” (typically the brand owner, or the first importer or retailer if the brand has no Canadian presence) responsible for funding the collection and recycling of packaging they supply. Key programs include:

• British Columbia: One of the longest-running packaging and paper product EPR programs in North America, operated through Recycle BC.
• Ontario: The Blue Box Regulation under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act has transitioned residential recycling to full producer responsibility, with producers reporting supply data to the Resource Productivity and Recovery Authority (RPRA).
• Quebec: A modernized curbside recycling system managed by Éco Entreprises Québec, with fees tied to material types and recyclability.
• Other provinces: Several other provinces, including Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, operate or are introducing packaging EPR programs.

Fees are usually calculated by weight and material type, and many programs charge more for hard-to-recycle materials. That makes packaging design a direct cost lever: lighter, mono-material, paper-based packaging typically costs less in EPR fees. If you sell in the US too, compare with our US EPR packaging laws guide.

5. Plastics Rules and the Federal Plastics Registry

The federal government has introduced measures targeting plastic waste, including the Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations covering items such as checkout bags, cutlery, straws and certain foodservice ware, and a Federal Plastics Registry requiring producers above certain thresholds to report plastic packaging placed on the market. These rules have been the subject of legal challenges and phased implementation, so check the current status before relying on any specific date.

For most brands using custom paper packaging, the practical takeaway is simple: reducing plastic components such as PET windows, plastic trays and film laminates reduces both regulatory exposure and EPR fees.

6. Recyclability Claims and Environmental Marketing

Canada’s Competition Act prohibits false or misleading representations, and amendments in 2024 added specific provisions on environmental claims, requiring that claims about environmental benefits be supported by adequate and proper testing or substantiation. For packaging, this means:

• Only print “recyclable” if the packaging is actually accepted in recycling programs where it is sold.
• Avoid vague claims such as “eco-friendly” or “green” without supporting details.
• Use certification logos such as FSC only when you hold a valid chain-of-custody claim. Our FSC packaging guide explains how to verify this.

7. Practical Design Checklist for Canada

1. Confirm which regulations apply to your product category (consumer product, food, cosmetic, natural health product).
2. Design artwork with English and French text from the start, including Quebec-specific checks.
3. Declare net quantity in metric units.
4. Include dealer name and address.
5. Minimize plastic and mixed materials to reduce EPR fees.
6. Substantiate every environmental claim printed on the box.
7. Identify who will be the obligated producer for EPR reporting in each province.

How Your Packaging Manufacturer Can Help

Your manufacturer is not responsible for your regulatory compliance, but a good supplier makes it easier. At Caiye Packaging we can:

• Supply accurate material specifications and weights per component, which you need for EPR reporting
• Recommend paper-based alternatives to plastic windows, trays and laminates
• Provide FSC-certified materials with chain-of-custody documentation
• Prepare bilingual die-lines with enough panel space for English and French text

The same principles apply to other markets. See our guides to EU packaging regulations and Australian packaging regulations if you sell internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all products sold in Canada need bilingual packaging?

Most prepackaged consumer products must show mandatory information in English and French, although some limited exemptions exist, for example for certain local or test-market products. Check the rules for your product category before assuming an exemption applies.

Who pays EPR fees for imported packaging in Canada?

Generally the brand owner is the obligated producer if it is resident in the province. If the brand owner has no Canadian presence, the obligation often falls on the importer or first retailer. Definitions vary by province, so confirm who is responsible before your first shipment.

Can I use the same packaging for Canada and the US?

Many brands use a single North American design with English and French text and metric plus US customary units. This simplifies inventory, but check Quebec requirements and each country’s claims rules before finalizing artwork.

Does paper packaging reduce EPR costs?

Usually yes. Paper and board generally carry lower fees than plastics and mixed materials in provincial programs, and paper-only packaging is easier to recycle, which supports your recyclability claims.

Plan Your Canadian Packaging With Caiye

Caiye Packaging has supplied custom rigid boxes, folding cartons and paper bags to brands across North America since 2005, from FSC, ISO 9001, BSCI and SMETA certified factories in China and Vietnam. Contact Harriet@dgcaiye.com to discuss bilingual packaging for your Canadian launch.