November 17, 2025
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is reminding industry that the transition period for the front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labelling regulations will end on December 31, 2025.
On July 20, 2022, Health Canada published amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations to include FOP labelling requirements. The regulations prescribe new labelling requirements in the form of a front-of-package nutrition symbol for prepackaged products deemed high in saturated fats, sugars and/or sodium.
The amendments came into force on the date of publication and include a 3.5-year transition period ending on December 31, 2025, to provide regulated parties with sufficient time to make the necessary adjustments to comply with the new requirements. This compliance date aligns with the predictable calendar established by the joint Health Canada and CFIA Food Labelling Coordination Policy.
In July 2022, the CFIA released an Implementation plan outlining its compliance and enforcement approach for these new labelling requirements. Since the publication of the implementation plan, the CFIA has not issued, nor does it intend to issue, enforcement discretion for the FOP labelling requirements beyond January 1, 2026.
Effective January 1, 2026, all food labels must fully comply with the new FOP labelling requirements. However, products that were imported, manufactured in Canada, or packaged at retail before that date can still be sold and remain on store shelves. Products imported, manufactured in Canada, or packaged at retail on or after January 1, 2026 will be subject to the standard regulatory response process. Following the end of the transition period, should non-compliances be identified during inspections, the regulated party will be given time to make corrections within the established timeframe to complete corrective actions that corresponds to the severity of the non-compliance.
Related links
- Implementation plan for amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (Nutrition Symbols, Other Labelling Provisions, Vitamin D and Hydrogenated Fats or Oils)
- Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol
- Food labelling coordination: Joint policy statement
- Standard inspection process
- Regulations Amending the Food and Drug Regulations (Nutrition Symbols, Other Labelling Provisions, Vitamin D and Hydrogenated Fats or Oils)