Canada has two official languages, meaning your business must learn to be bilingual. Companies aiming to operate or have their products on Canadian store shelves must adhere to specific regulations regarding product packaging to ensure that both English and French are used as required by national and local laws. As French is the dominant language in Québec, additional language requirements for your product labelling may also apply. Understanding and complying with these regulations is crucial for companies looking to succeed in the Canadian and Québec markets. Beyond compliance, you want to connect with consumers in a language they understand, applying the right cultural nuances. This blog post provides you with a few tips and links to resources.
Bilingual Packaging Requirements in Canada
The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act mandates that all compulsory information on consumer prepackaged products be presented in both of Canada’s official languages: English and French. This includes:
- Product Identity Declaration: The common or generic name of the product must be clearly stated in both languages.
- Net Quantity Declaration: The amount of the product must be indicated using metric units, which are considered bilingual. Imperial units may still appear next to metric indications.
- Dealer’s Name and Principal Place of Business: While this information can appear in either English or French, all other mandatory details must be bilingual.
In addition, some voluntary information added to the label or advertisements must be offered in both French and English. This includes:
- Nutrient content claims: This information must be provided in both languages, i.e., 5 grams of proteins per serving, 5 grammes de protéines par portion.
- Nutrition facts: Whether it’s the ubiquitous nutritional facts table or supplemented food facts, this information needs to be displayed in French and English.
- Organic claims: Your product is certified organic? You need to make the same claim in both official languages on the product label, i.e.,: organic – biologique.
- Health or benefit claims: Any claim relating to the health or other benefits of using the products must be included in French and English, i.e. contributes to healthy digestion, contribue à une saine digestion.
Not mandatory in Canada, but mandatory in Québec
- Non-essential information: your product’s packaging or displays may feature various recipes, fun stories, or games, for instance, on the packaging or as part of displays. This is considered general information and is therefore not subject to bilingual requirements at the federal level. However, it is strongly recommended to translate everything to ensure you are compliant with applying French-language laws in Québec, Canada’s French-speaking province. If you’re selling on the Québec market, everything needs to be translated.
What about Québec? Québec’s Specific Language Regulations
In Québec, the Charter of the French Language imposes additional stipulations to promote French as the primary language for businesses doing business in Québec. Key requirements include:
- Product labels and instructions: All products sold in Québec must feature labels, instructions, manuals, and warranties in French. Other languages may be included, but the French text must be at least as prominent.
- Public Signage and Advertising: French must be markedly predominant on all public signs, posters, and commercial advertising. If another language is used, the French text should be significantly more prominent.
Beyond the obvious importance of complying with legal obligations, adhering to these principles also acknowledges French as the primary language in Québec, making your product culturally relevant in that market too.
The Role of a Bilingual French-Canadian Marketing Consultant
The need for culturally relevant packaging, on top of navigating complex language regulations, makes it worthwhile to go beyond translation. Engaging a bilingual French-Canadian marketing consultant can be invaluable in ensuring compliance and brand resonance in French-speaking markets. Translations, whether AI or human-driven, do not always give justice to your carefully crafted product messaging and brand voice.
As your bilingual French and English communications professional, I can help you with:
- Translation and Localization: Accurately translating and culturally adapting product labels, marketing materials, and advertising campaigns to appeal to Francophone audiences while reflecting brand voice and intention.
- Regulatory Compliance: Work with your legal counsel to ensure that all packaging and promotional content meet federal and provincial language laws.
- Market Insights: Providing expertise on consumer preferences and cultural nuances within French-speaking communities, enabling more effective and targeted marketing strategies.
By leveraging the expertise of a bilingual marketing consultant, businesses can effectively bridge the linguistic and cultural divide, ensuring their brand communicates authentically and compliantly within Canada’s diverse landscape.
Takeaway
Complying with Canada’s bilingual packaging regulations and Québec’s language laws is essential for businesses aiming to succeed in these markets. Partnering with a knowledgeable bilingual French Canadian marketing consultant ensures that your brand not only meets legal requirements but also resonates with both English and French-speaking consumers, paving the way for greater market acceptance and success.