What goes on a beer label in Canada? The CFIA rules, in English and French

What you drink at home is yours to label as you like. Once beer leaves your hands, Canada's food rules apply, and they reach further than you might think: in the Food and Drugs Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Act, "sell" includes offering or displaying for sale, and distributing to one or more persons whether or not you are paid (section 2 of both Acts). Pouring at a festival or handing out bottles at an event can count.

The label rules are in the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) and in Part 11 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces them. According to the CFIA, they apply to beer sold only within its own province too, "regardless of the level of trade". Provinces and their liquor boards may add labelling requirements of their own for beer sold there, so check with the board in each province you sell in.

This guide covers only the label. Whether you may brew and sell beer – the federal licence and excise duty, the provincial permits and selling through or under the liquor board – is a question for the Canada Revenue Agency and your province. Allergens have a guide of their own: Allergens on a beer label in Canada.

The particulars at a glance

Everything the regulations require must be in English and French, except the name and address. In Québec, everything on the label must be in French – see below.

There is no federal requirement for a health or pregnancy warning, standard drinks or a deposit mark on beer: none of them appears in the FDR or the SFCR.

The common name: set by the alcohol content

The brand of your beer is not its common name. Beer has a compositional standard, in section 2.9.1 of volume 2 of the Canadian Food Compositional Standards, and a food with a standard must be labelled as its standard says (FDR B.01.042(c)). For beer, the name depends on the alcohol content, and it "must be used in any advertisement and on the label" (section 2.9.1(3)):

The name goes on the principal display panel (FDR B.01.006(1), SFCR 218(1)(a)) in both languages. "Beer" isn't among the names the FDR accepts in one language for both (B.01.012(10) lists only spirits, liqueurs, a few cocktails and sake), and neither are "ale", "stout" or "lager" – so a 6.5% IPA says "Strong Beer / Bière forte", and "IPA" can stand alongside it.

The standard also sets what beer is: the fermentation of an infusion of barley or wheat malt and hops (or hop extract) in water, with at most 4% residual sugars. Cereal grain, fruit, fruit juice, honey, maple syrup and other sources of carbohydrates, herbs and spices, salt and flavouring preparations may be added (section 2.9.1(1)). Two consequences for the name:

• A flavouring preparation becomes part of the common name (section 2.9.1(2)) – the CFIA's example is "beer with blueberry flavour". Real fruit, honey or maple syrup doesn't change the name.
• A beer with more than 4% residual sugars can't be called beer; the CFIA suggests a descriptive name such as "a blend of beer and grapefruit juice".

Below 1.1% the table gives no name; the CFIA accepts "0.4% alcohol beer". It also accepts "non-alcoholic" or "alcohol-free" in the common name only below 0.05%, and "dealcoholized" and "low alcohol" below 1.1% (CFIA).

The alcohol content

From 1.1% alcohol by volume, the percentage goes on the principal display panel, followed by "alcohol by volume", "alc./vol." or "alc/vol", or written between "alc." and "vol." (FDR B.02.003). So "6.5% alc./vol." or "alc. 6.5% vol." – the European "6.5% vol" alone isn't one of the forms. The CFIA counts the abbreviations as fully bilingual, so one "% alc./vol." does for both languages. The federal regulations set no tolerance for the figure, so state it accurately: a label must not be false or misleading (Food and Drugs Act, section 5(1)).

Net quantity

The volume goes on the principal display panel, in distinct contrast to everything else on the label, with the figures in bold (SFCR 221 and 230). It is metric: millilitres below 1,000 mL and litres from 1,000 mL; 500 mL may also be written 0.5 L (SFCR 232 and 233). The CFIA counts the symbols "mL", "ml" and "L" as bilingual, puts one space between number and symbol ("473 mL", not "473mL") and no full stop after it. "Net" is optional (CFIA).

The figures' minimum height depends on the area of the principal display surface (SFCR 229 and Schedule 6); the rest of the declaration, such as "mL", needs 1.6 mm:

The regulations don't say how to measure a round can or bottle. The principal display surface is the surface displayed under customary conditions of sale, without the top – or, if no particular surface is displayed, 40% of the side (SFCR section 1). A 355 mL can has about 250 cm² of side, so it needs 3.2 mm either way. On a 473 mL can, 40% of the side is about 130 cm² (3.2 mm), but the whole side is about 325 cm² (6.4 mm) – if your figures are smaller than 6.4 mm on a tall can, ask the CFIA how they measure it.

You may add fluid ounces, grouped with the metric figure (SFCR 236 and 237). The CFIA says U.S. fluid ounces may be used without marking them "U.S.", because the U.S. fluid ounce is larger than the Canadian one. A pack of six or fewer identical cans needs no volume of its own if each can's label, with its volume, can be clearly seen at the time of sale (SFCR 241.5).

Name and principal place of business

The label names the person or company by or for whom the beer was made, packaged or labelled, and their principal place of business, on any part of the label except only on the bottom (SFCR 218(1)(b) and (2), FDR B.01.007(1.1)(a) and B.01.005). This is the one particular that may be in only one language (FDR B.01.012(9)).

The CFIA asks for a physical location: the city and the province (or "Canada") are enough, though a full civic address is best practice. A website, a phone number or a virtual address isn't enough on its own. Beer made wholly outside Canada and labelled with a Canadian company's name needs "Imported by / importé par" or "Imported for / importé pour" in both languages, unless the country of origin is shown next to the name and address in letters at least as tall (SFCR 223).

English and French

All information the regulations require must be shown in both official languages (FDR B.01.012(2), SFCR 206(1)). Some forms already count as both: "% alc./vol.", "mL" and the month codes in a best-before date. The CFIA adds that the two languages needn't be the same size, as long as each meets its minimum height, and that federally, information you add voluntarily – a description, the style, a story – may be in one language.

If your label has another surface at least the same size and as prominent as the principal display panel, the front may be in one language and that surface in the other (FDR B.01.012(8)). A few exemptions allow a single language:

• Local food: beer sold only in the municipality where it is made and the municipalities right next to it, where one official language is the mother tongue of less than 10% of the people, may be labelled in the language of the other (B.01.012(1), (3) and (4)). Sell it one municipality further away and it needs both.
• Test market food: a new product that differs substantially from anything sold in Canada, for 12 months, after a notice to the CFIA six weeks before (B.01.012(5) and (6)).

Selling in Québec: French first

Québec's Charter of the French language goes further than the federal rules. Every inscription on a product, its container or its wrapping must be in French. It may be accompanied by translations, but no inscription in another language may be given greater prominence than the French or be available on more favourable terms (section 51). That covers everything on the label, not only what CFIA requires: the description, the tasting notes, a slogan. The federal local food exemption doesn't help here.

The exceptions are narrow. A registered trademark may be only in another language if no French version of it is on the register – but a generic term or a description of the product in the mark must then appear in French on the product (section 51.1 of the Charter, section 7.1 of the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business). The Regulation defines those as words describing the nature or the characteristics of the product, excluding the name of the business and the name of the product as marketed (section 27.2). The name of a business established exclusively outside Québec, place names outside Québec and personal names may stay in their own language, and so may "the denomination of an exotic product or foreign specialty" (section 7). Whether a beer style such as "IPA" or "stout" counts as one isn't settled by the text – to be safe, give it in French too, or ask the Office québécois de la langue française.

These trademark rules took effect on 1 June 2025. Until 1 June 2027, a product made before 1 June 2025 may still be sold if no French version of its trademark had been filed by 26 June 2024 (section 7 of Order in Council 1000-2024, in the Regulation's transitional provisions).

Best before

A best-before date is required only when the beer's durable life is 90 days or less (FDR B.01.007(1.1)(b)). Deciding how long your beer keeps is your job, says the CFIA – an unpasteurised, hoppy beer may well come in under 90 days. If it needs cold storage, add instructions such as "Keep refrigerated / Garder réfrigéré".

Even a voluntary date must follow the Canadian format (B.01.007(6)): "best before" and "meilleur avant" grouped with the date, the year first (when needed for clarity, at least its last two digits), then the month in words or as a bilingual code, then the day in numbers (B.01.007(4)). The codes are JA, FE, MR, AL, MA, JN, JL, AU, SE, OC, NO and DE (B.01.007(5)). So 15 January 2027 is "27 JA 15" – a European "15.01.2027" isn't allowed, even when no date is required. The date may go on the bottom if the label says where to find it (B.01.005(4)).

Lot code

Anyone who sells food at retail, or sends it to another province, imports or exports it, must keep traceability records and make sure the food carries a label with its common name, a lot code or other unique identifier, and the name and principal place of business (SFCR 90 and 92(1)). For consumer packages not packed at retail, the identifier must be a lot code (SFCR 92(2)). For alcohol, the CFIA lists traceability as required when you sell to consumers at retail in your province, trade between provinces, import or export. The format is yours; the CFIA advises against "BB" or "MA" in a lot code, which can be mistaken for a best-before date.

No ingredients list, no Nutrition Facts – but allergens

Beer that meets the standard, including beer with a flavouring preparation, needs no list of ingredients (FDR B.01.008(2)(f)). It must still declare allergens, gluten sources such as barley, and added sulphites (B.01.010.1(2), B.01.010.2(3)): see Allergens on a beer label in Canada.

A beverage with more than 0.5% alcohol needs no Nutrition Facts table (B.01.401(2)(b)(i)). That exemption is lost if the label mentions the energy value or a nutrient, makes a nutrition or health claim, or says "nutrition facts" or "valeur nutritive" (B.01.401(3)(e)) – so "only 99 calories" or "low carb" brings in a full table. The alcohol content itself isn't a nutrient claim (B.01.502(2)(j)), and the CFIA doesn't treat "dry" as a sugar claim.

"Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada"

Origin claims are voluntary for beer, but once you make one, the CFIA's guidelines apply. "Product of Canada" – and "Canadian", which counts as the same – means all or virtually all the major ingredients, processing and labour are Canadian; imported minor ingredients generally total less than 2%. A beer brewed in Canada with imported malt or hops can say "Made in Canada from imported ingredients" or "Made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients"; "Made in Canada" without that qualifier isn't accepted. "Brewed in Canada" is a more specific claim of the kind the CFIA accepts without a qualifier, as long as it is true.

Deposit

Canada has no federal deposit mark; deposits are provincial. In Québec, the requirement to print the deposit amount ended on 1 November 2023, and the only label requirement left is a visible and readable barcode. Producers must join the AQRCB (Consignaction), which recommends "Consigné là où la loi le prescrit" if you want a line anyway, and asks for no plastic sleeves or plastic labels on cans – a paper label or printing on the can (Consignaction). Elsewhere, provincial programs such as British Columbia's Return-It ask brand owners to register the containers they sell there: check with the program in each province you sell in.

How big the text must be

All required information must be clearly and prominently displayed and readily discernible (FDR A.01.016, SFCR 208). The minimum heights:

The "Contains" statement also has a fixed look: black type on a white or neutral background with at most a 5% tint, one plain sans-serif font, a bold title and a solid border or contrasting background (FDR B.01.008.1, B.01.008.2(2) and B.01.010.3).

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Last checked: 22 October 2026

This guide explains labelling and is not legal advice. Rules can change – if you sell your drink, check with the CFIA and your provincial liquor board.

Sources

• Justice Laws Website: Food and Drug Regulations, C.R.C., c. 870 (A.01.016, B.01.005 to B.01.012, B.01.042, B.01.401, B.02.003) · Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, SOR/2018-108 (sections 1, 90, 92, 206 to 241.5, Schedule 6) · Food and Drugs Act · Safe Food for Canadians Act
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Food Compositional Standards, volume 2, section 2.9.1 (beer)
• CFIA Industry Labelling Tool: Alcoholic beverages · Bilingual food labelling · Net quantity · Legibility and location · Name and principal place of business · Date markings and storage instructions · Origin claims
• CFIA: Overview of key SFCR requirements by food commodity · Traceability
• LégisQuébec: Charter of the French language, chapter C-11 · Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business, chapter C-11, r. 9
• Consignaction (AQRCB), questions from members (in French)
• Return-It (Encorp Pacific), brand registrants