Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870)

B.01.007 (1) In this section, packaging date means

• (a) the date on which a food is placed for the first time in a package in which it will be offered for sale to a consumer; or

• (b) the date on which a prepackaged product is weighed by a retailer in a package in which it will be offered for sale for the first time to a consumer.

(1.1) The following information shall be shown on any part of the label:

• (a) the identity and principal place of business of the person by or for whom the food was manufactured or produced;

• (b) where a prepackaged product having a durable life of 90 days or less is packaged at a place other than the retail premises from which it is to be sold,

  • (i) the durable life date, and

  • (ii) instructions for the proper storage of the prepackaged product if it requires storage conditions that differ from normal room temperature; and

• (c) where a prepackaged product having a durable life of 90 days or less is packaged on the retail premises from which it is to be sold,

  • (i) the packaging date, and

  • (ii) the durable life of the food, except when the durable life appears on a poster next to the food.

(1.2) The packaging date referred to in paragraph (1.1)(c) shall be shown in the form and manner prescribed for the durable life date by subsections (4) and (5) and the terms “best before” and “meilleur avant” on the label shall be replaced by the terms “packaged on” and “empaqueté le”.

(2) Paragraph (1.1)(a) does not apply to fresh fruits or fresh vegetables that are prepackaged on retail premises in such a manner that the fruits or vegetables are visible and identifiable in the package.

(3) Paragraphs (1.1)(b) and (c) do not apply to

• (a) prepackaged products consisting of fresh fruits or fresh vegetables;

• (b) prepackaged individual portions of food that are served by a restaurant or other commercial enterprise with meals or snacks;

• (c) prepackaged individual servings of food that are prepared by a commissary and sold by automatic vending machines or mobile canteens; or

• (d) prepackaged donuts.

(4) The durable life date shall be shown in the following manner:

• (a) the words “best before” and “meilleur avant” shall be shown grouped together with the durable life date unless a clear explanation of the significance of the durable life date appears elsewhere on the label;

• (b) where, for the sake of clarity, it is necessary to show the year in which the durable life date occurs, the year shall be shown first and shall be expressed by at least the last two numbers of the year;

• (c) the month shall be shown in words after the year, if the year is shown, and may be abbreviated as prescribed by subsection (5); and

• (d) the day of the month shall be shown after the month and shall be expressed in numbers.

(5) The month of the durable life date, when abbreviated, shall be abbreviated as follows and only one such abbreviation shall be used for the English language and the French language:

(6) Except as otherwise provided in these Regulations, no person shall use a durable life date marking system on the label of a prepackaged product or in advertising a prepackaged product other than the marking system set out in this section.

(7) Paragraph (1.1)(b) does not apply to prepackaged fresh yeast, if

• (a) the date on which it is estimated that the product has lost its effectiveness is shown on the label in the form and manner prescribed for the durable life date by subsections (4) and (5); and

• (b) the terms “best before” and “meilleur avant” are replaced by the terms “use by” and “employez avant”.