Food Packaging Regulations in Canada 2026: What Importers Must Know
Canada is one of the most attractive export markets for food packaging from China — large consumer base, proximity to the US market, strong food service industry, and relatively straightforward import procedures. But Canada also has distinct regulations that differ from both US FDA standards and EU requirements, and getting packaging rejected at the border because of compliance issues can delay entire shipments and damage supplier relationships.
This guide covers the current regulatory landscape for food packaging entering Canada in 2026: federal regulations, provincial differences, the single-use plastics ban, recycled content requirements, and practical import procedures.
The Federal Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations
The most significant recent development in Canadian food packaging is the federal Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR), which came into effect progressively starting in 2022 and reached full enforcement in 2024–2025. Under SUPPR, six categories of single-use plastic items are banned from manufacture, import, and sale in Canada:
1. Checkout bags — Plastic bags provided to customers at retail checkout. Alternatives include paper bags, reusable textile bags, and certified compostable bags.
2. Cutlery — Plastic forks, knives, spoons, sporks, and chopsticks. Compliant alternatives include wood, bamboo, paper-coated, and certified compostable plastics meeting specific standards.
3. Foodservice ware made from or containing problematic plastics — This targets expanded polystyrene (EPS/Styrofoam), PVC, oxo-degradable plastics, and black plastic with carbon black pigment. Clamshells, cups, plates, and bowls made from these materials are prohibited.
4. Ring carriers — The six-pack rings used to hold beverage cans together.
5. Stir sticks — Plastic coffee stir sticks. Wooden or paper alternatives are compliant.
6. Straws — With narrow exemptions for medical accessibility needs. Paper, PLA, bamboo, and reusable straws are compliant alternatives.
For food packaging exporters to Canada, the key takeaway is this: if your product falls into any of these six categories, it must use compliant materials. Traditional PET, PP, and paper products that are NOT in these categories remain legal.
Food Contact Safety Requirements
Canadian food-contact packaging must comply with standards administered by Health Canada under the Food and Drug Regulations. Unlike the US FDA, which has explicit regulations for specific food-contact materials (21 CFR Parts 174-190), Health Canada takes a more general safety-based approach: packaging materials must not pose a health risk through migration of chemicals into food.
Practically, this means Canadian regulators generally accept packaging that complies with FDA food-contact standards or EU Regulation 1935/2004. Chinese manufacturers exporting to Canada should ensure their materials have either FDA or EU compliance certification, which will typically satisfy Canadian requirements.
Specific attention areas include: heavy metals (especially lead, cadmium, mercury) in inks and colorants, phthalates in plastic containers, BPA in certain applications, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in grease-resistant paper products. Canada has been tightening PFAS restrictions particularly, following the lead of several US states and the EU.
Labeling Requirements
Packaging itself must include specific information in both English and French — Canada’s bilingual labeling requirement is one of the most commonly missed compliance issues for exporters.
For packaged food products: Common name of the food, net quantity, ingredient list, nutrition facts table, and country of origin must all be presented in both English and French. The French text must be at least as prominent as the English text — smaller French text is a violation.
For the packaging itself (when sold as a product): Product identification and country of origin must appear in both languages.
The “Product of China” or “Made in China” declaration is required for packaging imports and should appear in a location visible to the end customer. Some provinces also require specific recycling symbols on packaging, though these are voluntary federally.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programs
Canada implements EPR at the provincial level, meaning every province has slightly different requirements for companies that produce or import packaging. The producer (or importer, if the producer is foreign) is responsible for the end-of-life recovery and recycling of packaging materials.
Key provincial EPR programs: British Columbia (through Recycle BC), Ontario (Ontario Regulation 391/21), Quebec (Éco Entreprises Québec), and Alberta (expanding EPR framework). Other provinces are at various stages of EPR implementation.
For importers, this typically means registering with the relevant provincial stewardship organization, reporting annual packaging volumes, and paying fees based on material type and weight. Fees vary significantly — plastic packaging typically costs 3–10x more per kg than paper or glass packaging because plastic recycling is more expensive.
Small importers (typically those below 1,000 kg or 1 million in revenue thresholds) may be exempt from direct EPR registration, but this varies by province. For any regular importer into Canada, budgeting EPR fees as part of landed cost is essential — they typically add 2–8% to packaging costs.
Provincial Regulations to Watch
Quebec: The most regulated province for packaging. In addition to bilingual French/English labeling (with French required to be equally prominent), Quebec has moved ahead of federal requirements on several items including cup and container requirements at foodservice.
British Columbia: Has banned additional single-use items beyond federal SUPPR requirements in Vancouver and other municipalities. Certified compostable alternatives often must meet BPI or Canadian standards.
Ontario: Enforces EPR strictly and has specific reporting requirements under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act.
Import Procedures and Documentation
Importing food packaging to Canada requires specific documentation at the border:
Commercial invoice with detailed product descriptions, quantities, and values. Customs classification codes (HS codes) must be accurate — incorrect codes can result in penalties or delays. Food packaging typically falls under HS codes 3923 (plastic packaging), 4819 (paper packaging), or 7612 (aluminum containers).
Bill of lading or airway bill documenting the shipment.
Certificate of origin if claiming preferential tariff treatment under any trade agreement. Canada has free trade agreements with many countries but no FTA with China, so Chinese imports pay full MFN tariff rates.
Food contact compliance documentation from the manufacturer — typically FDA letters, EU declarations of conformity, or third-party lab test results.
Import duties on food packaging from China to Canada typically range from 3–10% depending on the specific product. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5% plus provincial sales taxes apply to the landed value in most cases.
Practical Recommendations for Chinese Exporters
For Chinese manufacturers targeting the Canadian market, the most important preparations are:
1. Avoid the six banned categories or have clearly compliant alternatives ready. Continuing to export EPS clamshells or plastic straws to Canada is not viable.
2. Prepare bilingual labeling templates so customers can order packaging with print-ready French/English designs. This is a differentiator versus suppliers who only offer English labeling.
3. Obtain relevant certifications — FDA compliance for plastics, BPI or EN 13432 for compostables, FSC for paper products. These certifications streamline customer due diligence and reduce compliance questions.
4. Understand that compostable claims must be verified — Canadian consumers and regulators are sophisticated about greenwashing. “Biodegradable” without certification is increasingly viewed skeptically.
Exporting food packaging to Canada? GQ TH Pack supplies Canadian-compliant food packaging including SUPPR-compliant alternatives to banned items, certified compostable clamshells and cutlery, and bilingual labeling support. Contact us to discuss your Canadian market requirements.