Advertising and Retail
Display Signs for Produce in Ontario
Ontario Regulation 119/11
Introduction
On July 1, 2011, Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 119/11 Produce, Honey
and Maple Products of the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
came into effect. It replaced Reg. 378 Grades - Fruit and Vegetables
under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act which previously
regulated produce in Ontario. O. Reg. 119/11 regulates the grading,
packaging, labelling, transporting, advertising and sale of produce,
honey and maple products in Ontario.
In O. Reg. 119/11, produce means fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouts,
fresh culinary herbs, in-shell tree nuts and peanuts, and edible
fungi that are grown or harvested for commercial purposes in Ontario.
Produce, whether or not it is wrapped, packaged or cut into pieces
for individual sale, must comply with the regulation.
This regulation does not include fruit and vegetables that are
minimally processed or otherwise processed or used in the manufacture
of other products. Minimally processed means produce peeled, cut,
sliced or shredded in order to prepare and package it for sale as
ready-to-eat or ready-to-cook. Processed means produce that is canned
or preserved.
All produce packed or repacked in Ontario, unless it is
of a type that is not commercially grown or harvested in Canada,
is subject to advertising and retail display sign requirements in
the regulation. OMAFRA encourages retailers to apply the advertising
and retail display sign requirements to produce brought into Ontario
so that consumers can easily make informed purchase decisions.
Produce Advertising
O. Reg. 119/11 requires advertisements, written or otherwise, to
state this information:
- The country or province where the produce was grown or harvested,
- use the words "Product of", "Produce of",
"Grown in" or "Country of Origin" followed
by the country name where the produce was grown or harvested
when produce is grown or harvested in a country other than
Canada
Example: Product of USA
- use the words "Product of", "Produce of",
"Grown in", "Country of Origin" or "Province
of Origin" followed by the word "Canada" or
the name of the province where produce was grown or harvested
when grown or harvested in Canada.
Example: Product of Canada Grown in Ontario
- In the case of potatoes, the grade of the potatoes.
- If the produce is packaged, the net quantity of the produce.
Produce Retail Display Signs
O. Reg. 119/11 requires a sign on or immediately over a display
of produce offered for retail sale. This applies to produce that
can be commercially grown or harvested in Canada. Retail displays
must have the following information:
- The country or province where the produce was grown or harvested,
- use the words "Product of", "Produce of",
Grown in" or "Country of Origin" followed by
the country where the produce was grown or harvested when
grown or harvested in a country other than Canada, or
- use the words "Product of", "Produce of",
"Grown in", "Country of Origin" or "Province
of Origin" followed by the word "Canada" or
the name of the province where the produce was grown or harvested
when grown or harvested in Canada.
- In the case of peppers, use "sweet" or "hot"
as appropriate.
- If the produce is sold by weight, the price per unit of weight.
The print on a retail sign should be easy to read and in proportion
to the size of the sign.
Clear and accurate labelling and signage help consumers make informed
purchasing decisions. Tips and easy-to-use, downloadable templates
and instructions are available at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/fruitveg/retailsign.htm
Misrepresentation
False or misleading information on any label, package or master
container of produce, in any advertisement for produce or in a retail
display sign is prohibited by O. Reg. 119/11. The regulation prohibits
misrepresentation of:
- the name and address of the packer. If the packer packs the
produce on behalf of a retailer, producer or another person, the
person on whose behalf it is packed must be stated.
- the place where the produce was grown or harvested
- the amount of produce contained in the package any grade of
potatoes established under O. Reg. 119/11.
Advertising and Selling Resources
Provincial
Retail Sign and Label Toolkit
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/fruitveg/retailsign.htm
Ontario Regulation 119/11 under the Food Safety and Quality Act,
2001
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_110119_e.htm
Federal
Guidelines to Food Labelling and Advertising
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/toce.shtml
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations under the Canada Agricultural
Products Act
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._285/index.html
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-38/
Food and Drugs Act and Regulations
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-27/
