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Selling clothing, footwear and textiles in Canada

In Canada, consumer textile articles listed in the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations carry a label with fibre content by percentage and the dealer's identity, enforced by the Competition Bureau. Fibre information is bilingual. Health Canada sets flammability requirements under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, with stricter rules for children's sleepwear and lead limits for children's clothing.

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

Fibre labelling
Textile Labelling Act; Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations
Enforced by
The Competition Bureau
Fibre content
Generic names and percentages by mass, for fibres of 5% or more
Dealer identity
Name and postal address, or a CA identification number
Flammability
Textile Flammability Regulations; Children's Sleepwear Regulations

Before a product goes on sale

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

  1. 1Is the article listed in Schedule I of the Regulations, or exempt? Read more
  2. 2Does the label show fibre content in percentages, in English and French? Read more
  3. 3Does it identify the dealer by name and address or CA number? Read more
  4. 4Does it need a permanent label that survives ten cleanings? Read more
  5. 5Does it meet the flammability requirements, including for children's sleepwear? Read more
  6. 6For children's clothing, is lead within the limit? Read more

The rules, by area

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

Fibre content and dealer identity

What a disclosure label shows, under the Textile Labelling Act.

  • No dealer may sell, import or advertise a prescribed consumer textile article unless it is labelled with fibre content and dealer identification; false or misleading representations are prohibited (sections 3 and 5, Textile Labelling Act).
  • The generic name of each fibre present at 5% or more is stated as a percentage of total fibre mass, generally in order of predominance; abbreviations of generic names are, with one exception, not acceptable.
  • Fibre content information, and terms such as "reclaimed", are in English and French, except where only one official language is used in consumer transactions; the dealer identity and country of origin need only one language.
  • The dealer is identified by name and full postal address, or for a dealer in Canada by a CA identification number registered with the Competition Bureau for a fee of $100.
  • Quebec has additional requirements on the use of French on products marketed there.

How we help: Compliant Always reads each label against the composition test report behind it, in both languages, and keeps the CA number record with the product. Ask about this

Form of labels, care and imports

Permanent labels, care information and imported articles.

  • Articles in Schedule I but not Schedule III need a permanent label that withstands and stays legible through at least ten cleanings.
  • Care information is not mandatory, but where given it must not be false or misleading and must reflect an appropriate method of care.
  • Incompletely labelled imports may be relabelled in Canada if a Competition Bureau officer is notified at or before importation.
  • The country of origin is required only when a representation is made that the article, fabric or fibre is imported; the Canada Border Services Agency requires origin marking on specific goods.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the label specification, care testing and import notices with each style and shipment, dated. Ask about this

Flammability and children's products

Health Canada requirements under the CCPSA.

  • Textile products without a raised fibre surface must have a flame spread time over 3.5 seconds; raised-fibre products that ignite or fuse at the base, over 4 seconds; bedding, over 7 seconds, tested to CAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.5 (Textile Flammability Regulations).
  • Tight-fitting children's sleepwear up to size 14X must have a flame spread time over seven seconds; loose-fitting sleepwear meets a char length test, and if treated with a flame retardant carries a permanent "flame retardant" and "ignifugeant" label.
  • Each accessible part of clothing or clothing accessories for a child under 14 may contain no more than 90 mg/kg of lead (Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations).
  • Apparel treated with or containing tris (2,3 dibromopropyl) phosphate may not be manufactured, imported, advertised or sold (Schedule 2, CCPSA).
  • The CCPSA's incident reporting within two days and six-year record keeping apply to clothing and textiles.

How we help: Upload the flammability or lead test report and Compliant Always reads each result against the limit that applies to that article. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Dealer (manufacturer, importer or retailer)The fibre content label, dealer identity and truthful representations.Labels and composition reports kept with each style.
CA number holderCompliance for each article bearing its number, and telling the Bureau of changes.CA number details and the styles that carry it, in one place.
ImporterLabelled imports, or notice before relabelling, and CCPSA duties.Suppliers' test reports read before the goods arrive.

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.

Questions businesses ask

What must a clothing label show in Canada?
For articles listed in Schedule I of the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations: the generic name and percentage by mass of each fibre at 5% or more, and the dealer's identity, by name and postal address or CA number.
What is a CA number?
An identification number a dealer in Canada can register with the Competition Bureau and use on textile labels instead of its name and address. Registration costs $100, and the holder answers for articles bearing the number.
Do clothing labels have to be bilingual in Canada?
Fibre content information must be in English and French, except where only one official language is used in consumer transactions. The dealer identity and country of origin need only one. Quebec has additional French requirements.
Are care labels mandatory in Canada?
No. Care information is voluntary, but where it is given it must not be false or misleading and must reflect an appropriate method of care.
Is country of origin required on clothing in Canada?
Not by the Textile Labelling Act, unless a representation is made that the article or its fabric or fibre is imported. The Canada Border Services Agency requires origin marking on specific goods.
Who enforces textile labelling in Canada?
The Competition Bureau enforces the Textile Labelling Act and its Regulations. Health Canada enforces flammability and other safety rules under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
What are the flammability rules for clothing in Canada?
Under the Textile Flammability Regulations, textile products need a flame spread time over 3.5 seconds, or over 4 seconds for some raised-fibre fabrics, and bedding over 7 seconds. Children's sleepwear has its own regulations.
What are the rules for children's sleepwear?
Tight-fitting sleepwear up to size 14X needs a flame spread time over seven seconds. Loose-fitting sleepwear meets a char length test, and if treated with a flame retardant carries a permanent bilingual label saying so.
Is lead restricted in children's clothing?
Yes. Each accessible part of clothing or clothing accessories intended for a child under 14 may contain no more than 90 mg/kg of lead.
Can I import clothing and label it in Canada?
Yes, if a Competition Bureau officer is notified at or before importation of the nature and quantity of the goods, the date and port of entry and where the relabelling will be done.
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.

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