Canada: Consumer Protection

Canada maintains a sophisticated yet largely voluntary system for regulating food-contact materials, placing primary responsibility on industry to ensure packaging safety. While Health Canada offers Letters of No Objection (LONOs) as written assurances, this regulatory framework may soon shift toward a mandatory positive list approach, fundamentally changing how food packaging materials are assessed and approved in the Canadian market.

Starting October 5, 2026, Québec will introduce a new statutory warranty of good working order for consumer goods such as appliances and electronics, with minimum warranty periods ranging from 3 to 6 years. The legislation imposes disclosure obligations on manufacturers and merchants while prohibiting any attempts to exclude or limit this warranty. Businesses operating in Québec must adapt their practices to comply with these consumer protection requirements or face potential compliance issues.

Advertising to children in Canada requires navigating a complex web of federal and provincial regulations, industry codes, and privacy laws that vary by medium and jurisdiction. Quebec's Consumer Protection Act imposes particularly strict prohibitions on commercial advertising directed at children under 13, with significant penalties for non-compliance. Understanding these layered requirements is essential for brands launching child-facing campaigns, from back-to-school promotions to food marketing and digi