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Selling pet food and treats in Canada

In Canada, pet food is not comprehensively regulated like human food or livestock feed. The CFIA controls the import and export of pet food containing animal products to keep out animal disease. Prepackaged pet food carries a bilingual common name, metric net quantity and dealer details under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, enforced by the Competition Bureau.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Import of animal-based pet food
CFIA, under the Health of Animals Regulations
Retail labelling
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (Competition Bureau)
Mandatory label items
Bilingual common name, metric net quantity, dealer name and address
Industry benchmark
Competition Bureau guide for dog and cat food
Personal imports
Up to 20 kg per animal, US origin, with the animal

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does it contain animal products or by-products, and where is it from? Read more
  2. 2Which import permit, certificate or conditions does AIRS list for it? Read more
  3. 3Does the label carry the bilingual common name, net quantity and dealer details? Read more
  4. 4Does the label show ingredients, guaranteed analysis, feeding instructions and life stage? Read more
  5. 5Do any ingredients or claims bring in drug, pesticide or new substance rules? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Import of pet food containing animal products

The CFIA's role, which is limited to import and export.

  • The CFIA regulates the import of pet food, treats and chews containing animal products and by-products under the Health of Animals Regulations, to prevent animal diseases being introduced into Canada.
  • Its oversight of pet food is limited to compliance with import and export requirements for animal products and by-products.
  • For commercial imports the CFIA checks the risks before approving, may inspect the producing establishment abroad, and lists specific requirements in the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).
  • Travellers may bring up to 20 kg per animal of commercially packaged US-origin pet food when the animal travels with them and eats it.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps import permits, zoosanitary certificates and supplier questionnaires with each product and shipment, dated, and shows what expires before the next one. Ask about this

Mandatory labelling

What the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act requires on prepackaged pet food sold at retail.

  • The common or generic name, such as "Dog Food" or "Cat Food", appears on the principal display panel in English and French.
  • The net quantity is shown on the principal display panel in metric units, in English and French; a correct metric symbol meets the bilingual requirement.
  • The name and principal place of business of the person by or for whom the product was made appears anywhere except the bottom, in English or French.
  • Imported pet food may show a Canadian dealer preceded by "imported by/importé par" or "imported for/importé pour", a "Made in" or "Product of" statement beside the Canadian dealer, or a dealer outside Canada.
  • Labels must not carry false or misleading representations (section 7, CPLA); products sold in Quebec or another province with language legislation follow that legislation too.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label against the CPLA particulars in both languages and keeps the label version with the product and lot. Ask about this

The Competition Bureau's pet food guide

A voluntary code and enforcement benchmark for prepackaged dog and cat food.

  • The guide is not law; it sets best practices and a benchmark the Competition Bureau considers when assessing false or misleading representations. It covers prepackaged dog and cat food, not treats or food for other pets.
  • Labels should give the common name, net weight, list of ingredients, feeding instructions, guaranteed analysis and nutritional adequacy or intended life stage.
  • The guaranteed analysis shows minimum crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fibre and maximum moisture, on an "as fed" basis.
  • Ingredients are listed by their common or usual name; the onus is on the manufacturer or importer that each ingredient is allowable and does not make the product a drug.
  • Nutritional adequacy claims should be accurate and verifiable.

How we help: Compliant Always reads the protein, fat, fibre and moisture figures on your label against the lab report behind them, and keeps the evidence for adequacy claims with the product. Ask about this

Other departments

Rules that can apply to particular ingredients or claims.

  • Depending on an ingredient's purpose, Environment and Climate Change Canada (new substances) and Health Canada (pesticides, veterinary drugs and veterinary health products) may be involved.
  • Health Canada administers legislation prohibiting unsubstantiated health claims in pet food labelling and advertising.

How we help: Compliant Always records which rules each ingredient and claim brings in, with the evidence kept beside it. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Manufacturer or brandThe label, its ingredients and claims, and the evidence behind them.Label, formula and lab reports kept together and dated.
ImporterImport permits and certificates for animal-based pet food, and the CPLA label.Permits and certificates read and dated before the shipment leaves.
RetailerSelling products labelled as the CPLA requires.Suppliers' label and import documents ready when asked.

Provinces and territories

The federal Acts and regulations in these guides apply across Canada. Provincial regulations may add labelling requirements for products sold within a province, and Quebec has additional requirements on the use of French on products marketed there.

Alcohol is largely provincial: provincial and territorial liquor boards set their own requirements, and liquor imported into a province is consigned to the provincial body authorised to sell it.

Shipping out of Canada?

Exporting pet food from Canada

Questions businesses ask

Who regulates pet food in Canada?
No single regulator. The CFIA controls import and export of pet food containing animal products, the Competition Bureau enforces the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, and Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada may be involved for certain ingredients and claims.
Is pet food regulated like human food in Canada?
No. The CFIA says pet food is not a comprehensively regulated commodity in Canada compared to food for human consumption or livestock feeds.
Do I need a permit to import pet food into Canada?
Pet food, treats and chews containing animal products are regulated under the Health of Animals Regulations when imported. The CFIA assesses risks before approving commercial imports; requirements by product and origin are in AIRS.
What must a pet food label show in Canada?
Under the CPLA, a bilingual common name such as "Dog Food" in both languages, the net quantity in metric units, and the name and principal place of business of the dealer.
Does pet food need a guaranteed analysis in Canada?
The Competition Bureau's guide says a label should show minimum crude protein and fat and maximum crude fibre and moisture. The guide is not law, but is a benchmark the Bureau uses on misleading representations.
Does the pet food guide apply to treats?
No. The Competition Bureau's guide is limited to prepackaged dog and cat food and does not apply to pet treats or to food for other pets.
Do pet food labels have to be in French?
The common name and net quantity must appear in English and French. The dealer's name and address may be in either. Products sold in Quebec must also meet its language legislation.
Can I bring pet food into Canada when travelling?
Up to 20 kg per animal, if it is commercially packaged, of US origin, in your possession, and fed only to the animal travelling with you.
Can pet food make health claims in Canada?
Health Canada administers legislation prohibiting unsubstantiated health claims in pet food labelling and advertising, and an ingredient or claim can make a product a drug under the Food and Drugs Act.
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Canada?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including Canada's federal rules and the bilingual labelling they share. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Canada and what your paperwork needs to show.

Get in touch

No card, no account, and no call to book. Tell us what you make and where you sell it, and we will come back to you.

Get in touch