Canada and US Labelling

The company i am working with is currently exporting products in the US and Canada.

One of our main concern is having to separate packaging for each country since they have different guidelines.

Canada requires bilingual packaging whilst US do not. Having 2 separate packaging can be bothersome sometimes.

 

In terms of labelling design (Nutrition Facts, Net Weight declaration, Ingredients, etc), is it possible for us to have a certain design that can both be acceptable to the US and Canadian Markets?

 

Thank you.

Unfortunately this is not possible

 

For Canada bilingual - English & French

 

http://www.inspectio...9/1383607344939

 

For USA - English - Spanish can also be used in the USA

 

https://www.fda.gov/...ion-facts-label

 

https://www.fda.gov/...ion-facts-label

The required CONTENT for the NFT is also not exactly the same in the US and Canada..............so you're packaging SHOULD be completely different 

 

Also, there are some ingredients that are allowed in the US that are not Allowed in Canada (would assume works both ways, but not sure) so make sure your finished good is legal in both countries too

I have a package of Presidente heavy cream on the table here. I am in Panama right now and the product comes out of Toronto Canada... it has 4 languages on it - English, French, Spanish and Farci. Seems to work out just fine for this company. Your product would thus need 3.

I see instant noodles from philippines have several languages on the retail packaging. So if you can put all languages and NFTs it maybe allowed. But be cautious about the each countries regulation on manner of declaring, and legibility.

Further information for Canada

 

https://www.inspecti...5/1393275314581

Languages other than English and French

Other languages, in addition to English and French, may be used in labels and advertisements provided the mandatory information is shown in English and French on the label and the information in another language does not violate the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations, or any other federal legislation. Labelling and advertising information must be truthful and not misleading regardless of the language in which it is presented.

The format and presentation of the Nutrition Facts table are specifically prescribed and there is no provision for the use of other languages within the table. Although other languages are not permitted within the Nutrition Facts table, these could appear outside the Nutrition Facts table provided the Nutrition Facts table is shown in English and French on the label and the information in another language does not violate the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations, or any other federal legislation. Refer to Language in Presentation of the Nutrition Facts table for more information.

For the USA

 

https://www.fda.gov/...ion-facts-label

For ingredients, you'll need to watch out for allergens as well. Canada has a few more than the US. https://farrp.unl.ed...atory-situation - to see what foods need to be labeled as allergens.