Retail Display Sign Requirements Under the
Farm Products Grades and Sales Act

What you should know if you are involved
in selling produce to consumers in Ontario

Ontario's fruit and vegetable industry has a reputation for producing safe, high quality food for consumers. Providing accurate information to buyers as required by law is an important part of upholding this reputation. Requirements are outlined in the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act, Regulation 378, which is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

What is the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act?

The main focus of the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act is quality assurance and setting quality and grade standards for numerous commodities. The statute and regulations provide for the inspection, grading, labelling, packaging and marketing of designated farm products. For information regarding OMAFRA's enforcement options under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act refer to fact sheet titled, Ticketable Offences Under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act: What you should know if you are involved in grading, packaging and marketing farm products (IS-04-01).

General Signage Requirements

All produce on display and being offered for sale to consumers must have a sign directly adjacent to where the produce is being offered for sale.

Markings on the retail display signs should be:

• Easy to read
• Of a permanent nature
• Of a size reasonable in proportion to the retail display signs
• At least one-quarter inch (1/4") in height.

The sign must have the following information:

1. Origin Requirement
   For Imported Produce: Country of origin in the form of "Product of (country)."
   For Canadian Grown Produce: Either "Product of Canada" or "Product of (province)."
2. Grade Requirement
   For the applicable produce indicate the grade of the produce immediately above, below or beside the origin in the same size lettering.
3. Weight Requirement
   The price per unit weight, if sold by weight, must be stated.
4. Variety Name Requirements
   Variety name of apples and pears must be included.
5. Peppers, Sweet or Hot Requirement
   For peppers the word "Sweet" or "Hot" must be specified.

Where can I get more information?
For additional information, please contact:
Food Inspection Branch
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor
Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2
Telephone: (519) 826-4180
fpo@omafra.gov.on.ca
www.omafra.gov.on.ca

For access to complete statues and regulations, please refer to the Ontario Statutes and Regulations website at: www.e-laws.gov.on.ca

Here are two examples of the five specific signage requirements and how they may be applied:

Note: Failure to adhere to regulatory requirements is a violation of the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act and may be a ticketable offence, subject to fines of $100 to $350, or subject to formal prosecution. More than one ticket may be issued at one location where multiple offences have occurred.

For a list of ticketable offences under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act refer to factsheet titled, Ticketable Offences Under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act: What you should know if you are involved in grading, packaging and marketing farm products (IS-04-01).

This publication is provided for informational purposes only.
Please refer to the regulations for complete requirements.

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Related Links

• www.e-laws.gov.on.ca
• Ticketable Offences Under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act