Canada Made & Local

Overview

This Canada Made note is companion to our Support Ontario Made article.

An overview article is posted here
Canada Tips

Ontario Made and the SupportOntarioMade resources provide guidelines and support for using the Ontario Made logo and messaging.

Unlike Ontario Made, there is no single coordinating entity for Made In Canada and Product of Canada certification marks. There are rules, which are outlined below.

This article is not exhaustive. Confirm whether each of your products meets the requirements for the certification mark (logo) you intend to use.

Tip: Also see our notes regarding Buy Canadian apps and websites

 

Made in Canada benefits

Customers are looking for products Made in Canada, Made in Ontario, and made locally. Use these markings and messaging to communicate with your customers and potential customers.

These symbols and programs make it easier and clearer for customers to identify which companies they want to align with.

Granolala Sample Packet dispenser pillar flag sign


Made In Canada vs. Product of Canada

If your product is essentially entirely made in Canada, using ingredients and inputs also of Canadian origin, then your product may (should?) qualify to be marked as Product of Canada. See farther below for more info.

 

Made In Canada

If your product does not meet the strict requirements for Product of Canada, your product may qualify for Made In Canada marking if at least 51% of the total direct costs of creation are incurred in Canada.
And the last substantial transformation of the finished good must occur in Canada.

That 51% is not just the cost of your ingredients. Depending on the product and your method of manufacture, your own efforts, time, processes and even Intellectual Property (IP) may constitute significant value in the calculation. Costs related to design, packaging, patent, trademarks, perhaps branding and marketing may also be considered.

The legislation is enforced domestically by the Competition Bureau, the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada.

Made in Canada claims require a qualifying statement for any imported materials. The Made in Canada roundel shown here is actually incomplete without the qualifying text. 

The Made in Canada symbol or wording should be accompanied by a qualifying statement indicating that the product contains imported content. such as "Made in Canada with imported parts" or "Made in Canada with domestic and imported parts". Same for use of imported ingredients of food products.
This could also include more specific information such as "Made in Canada with 60% Canadian content and 40% imported content".

Bi-lingual mark with Qualifying statement

If your product does not include imported ingredients, hopefully you would qualify for the more demanding Product of Canada designation.

In all cases, the last substantial transformation of the product must have occurred in Canada. 

 

* Canadian Maple Leaf

There is a restriction regarding the use of a specific form of the Maple Leaf. The Maple Leaf that appears on the offical Canadian Flag can not be used for commercial purposes. 

You will notice that (almost) every 'Canadian' Maple Leaf you find online is drawn slightly differently, and is different from the offical Canadian Flag version. Select or create a Maple Leaf that is attractive and similar to the official Flag version, but not exactly the same. 

Also, do not use any of the offical Canadian Government marks or word marks.

Canada mark


Made in Canada roundel 

The version shown here is only one example.

As noted above, you may (should) include the qualifying statement about your use of imported ingredients. The statement should be visually nearby and readable.

You could add a second circular ring of text with your qualifying statement. Or place it below or otherwise nearby.

Made In Canada round symbol


French and English

You may elect to use a mark which shows both languages.

You may find two variations; 

Fait au Canada : Made in Canada

Fabriqué au Canada : Manufactured/Made in Canada

Ensure that your product really is meeting the requirements, and choose (or create) your Made in Canada marking(s).

 

Product of Canada

Product of Canada has significant requirements.

Product labels may use the term "Product of Canada" if at least 98 percent of the total direct costs to create the good are incurred in Canada.
This includes "all or virtually all" of the ingredients, components, processing, labour, and manufacturing costs.

Moreover, the "last substantial transformation" must have been executed in Canada, with the product being processed from its constituent ingredients or components into a new product.

The claim "Canadian" is considered equivalent to "Product of Canada" and must meet the same requirements, as do implied declarations like "Proudly Canadian" or "Buy Canadian" and Canadian symbols like the flag or maple leaf.

Effectively, your product really must meet the requirements of either Made in Canada or Product of Canada, if you use the maple leaf or a Canadian flag image.

Product Of Canada round logo

Note: The requirements for using the Ontario Made symbols (which does include a maple leaf) are different. You may qualify for Ontario Made even if your product does not (quite) qualify for either of the Canada certifcations.


 

Resources

Made in Canada: 


Canada Made

 

Reviews, Questions, Comments, let us know! We would love to hear from you - Marion