As Canadian businesses prepare to celebrate Canada Day, many are looking to highlight their national pride by adding “Made in Canada” or “Product of Canada” claims to their product labels. These origin claims can be a powerful way to build trust with consumers — but only if they meet the regulatory requirements. Whether you manufacture food, natural health products (NHPs), or consumer goods, it’s essential to understand what qualifies under Canadian law.

This article breaks down what you need to know about origin claims and how to ensure you’re using them correctly, based on guidance from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Competition Bureau Canada.

Background
There’s been a recent uptick in Canadian manufacturers and producers — across both food and non-food sectors — looking to include Canadian origin claims on their labels. These claims are voluntary, but they must be truthful and not misleading. Depending on your product type, they’re regulated by different authorities:

• Food products are regulated by the CFIA.
• Non-food products, including NHPs and consumer goods, fall under the Competition Bureau Canada.

Each agency has clear criteria for when you can use claims such as “Made in Canada,” “Product of Canada,” or more specific content-related statements.

What You Need to Know

Food Products (Regulated by CFIA)

• Origin claims like “Made in Canada” and “Product of Canada” are voluntary but subject to strict regulatory requirements.
• These claims can be made across all levels of trade, including manufacturing, retail, and food service, but must meet the same criteria at each level.
• “100% Canadian” claims may only be used if all ingredients and inputs are entirely Canadian, with no exceptions.
• “Product of Canada” may be used if:
  • All or virtually all ingredients, processing, and labour are Canadian.
  • A maximum of 2% of non-Canadian content is permitted.
  • Some non-Canadian packaging materials or imported agricultural inputs (e.g. seeds, feed) may be used, provided the final product packaging is still Canadian.
• “Made in Canada” requires a qualifying statement, such as:
  • “Made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients” or
  • “Made in Canada from imported ingredients”
  • You may not claim “Made in Canada” on its own.
• Specific domestic content claims like “Canned in Canada,” “Prepared in Canada,” or “Distilled in Canada” are allowed only if the full operational process is completed in Canada.
• Use of symbols (e.g. maple leaves, Canadian flags) is generally not permitted unless approved, as they may imply misleading claims.
• These origin claims are separate from mandatory country-of-origin labelling and do not replace core labelling requirements.

Reference: CFIA Origin Claims

Non-Food Products (Regulated by Competition Bureau Canada)

• Includes NHPs, consumer goods, animal feed, agricultural seeds, and more.
• To make a “Product of Canada” claim, both of the following must apply:
  • At least 98% of the total direct cost of producing the good is incurred in Canada.
  • The last substantial transformation or processing step occurs in Canada.
• To make a “Made in Canada” claim, all of the following must apply:
  • At least 51% of the total direct cost of producing the good is incurred in Canada.
  • The last substantial transformation occurs in Canada.
  • The claim must be accompanied by a qualifying statement, e.g., “Made in Canada with 60% Canadian content and 40% imported content.”
• Specific production claims such as “Assembled in Canada with foreign parts” or “Packaged in Canada with imported ingredients” are permitted, provided they are truthful and not misleading.
• Images, logos, or designs that imply Canadian origin are allowed only if the product meets the requirements for origin claims.

Reference: Competition Bureau Guidelines

How Can I Be Prepared?
If you’re considering adding a Canadian origin claim to your product, here are a few steps to help ensure compliance:

• Review your supply chain and cost breakdowns: Know exactly what percentage of your ingredients, components, and production costs are Canadian.
• Document your transformation processes: The final substantial transformation must take place in Canada for any claim to apply.
• Use qualifying statements where required: Claims like “Made in Canada” are not permitted without additional information on content origin.
• Be cautious with symbols: Visual elements like maple leaves may unintentionally suggest a “Product of Canada” claim — make sure your usage is supported by the facts.
• Understand the difference between “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” — the thresholds and requirements are not the same.

Get Expert Advice
Whether you’re labelling food, supplements, cosmetics, or consumer goods, Canadian origin claims can be a great way to highlight your commitment to local manufacturing — but only if they’re made correctly.

If you have questions or need help evaluating whether your label qualifies, dicentra’s regulatory experts are here to help. We can assess your operations, review your claims, and guide you through the process to ensure full compliance.

Celebrate Canada Day the right way — with origin claims you can stand behind.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your compliance needs.