Only the Canadian Nutrition Facts table may be used to provide nutrition information in Canada.
Nutrition labelling systems from other countries are not acceptable in Canada.
One objective of Canada’s nutrition labelling regulations is to provide a standardized system for conveying information about the nutrient content of foods. Mandatory declarations, reference values and formats which differ from the one adopted by Canada make it difficult for consumers to compare foods at the point of purchase. These, therefore do not support an informed consumer choice for Canadians.
From the beginning of the development of the Canadian nutrition labelling regulations, compatibility with the system in the United States was a clear objective. However, emerging science, health concerns and differences in diet all limit the extent to which harmonization is possible. For example, the U.S. nutrition labelling regulations, passed in 1993, have not been updated to reflect emerging science (e.g., the nutritional importance of omega-3 fatty acids). Nor can the U.S. legislation reflect the consumer’s experience with current U.S. regulations. In addition, differences in units of measure and bilingual requirements in Canada limit harmonization.