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The short answer
Mandatory label information on consumer prepackaged food sold in Canada must be in both English and French, including the common name and the net quantity; only the dealer's name and address may be in one language (CFIA, September 2025). The exemptions for specialty, local and test market foods are narrow, and the CFIA says the majority of imported foods do not qualify as specialty foods, so English-only Nigerian packs normally need a bilingual label before sale.
The rule
The CFIA's bilingual food labelling page (modified 3 September 2025) states: "Mandatory information on consumer prepackaged food must be shown in both official languages, that is, French and English." The legal basis is section 206 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and section B.01.012(2) of the Food and Drug Regulations.
A pack of Nigerian noodles, a tin of tomato paste or a bag of semovita printed only in English meets the language rule in Nigeria, but not in Canada. It is the importer's or seller's job to make it compliant before it reaches a shopper.
What must be in both languages
| Label item | Bilingual? |
|---|---|
| Common name | Yes |
| Net quantity | Yes; SI symbols such as g, kg, mL count as bilingual, but words like "gram" need the French form |
| Other mandatory information, such as ingredients | Yes |
| Name and principal place of business | No, English or French is enough |
| Organic, nutrient content and health claims, if you make them | Yes, once used they must be bilingual |
| Extra nutrition information in the Nutrition Facts table | Yes |
| Voluntary content such as recipes | Not covered by the federal bilingual rule |
Other languages are allowed as well, if the mandatory information is in English and French. That means a Yoruba or Hausa product name can stay on the pack, but not inside the Nutrition Facts table, where the CFIA says no other language is allowed. English and French text need not be the same type height, though equal height is encouraged.
The exemptions, and why most Nigerian foods miss them
Specialty foods
A specialty food may be labelled in one language. The definition covers foods with special religious significance used in religious ceremonies, and imported foods that are not widely used in Canada and have no readily available substitute made or packaged in Canada. The CFIA adds that "the majority of imported foods are not considered to meet the definition." Garri, plantain chips and palm oil all have Canadian-made or widely available alternatives in some form, so do not assume the exemption. If you think a product qualifies, ask the CFIA before you rely on it. Halal foods sold at retail are not specialty foods and must be fully bilingual.
Local foods
Food made, processed or packaged in a local government unit and sold only there or next door may use one language if the other is the mother tongue of fewer than 10% of residents. This helps a home producer in some towns; it does not help a product imported from Lagos.
Test market foods
There is a test market exemption, with conditions on a separate CFIA page. It is for trying out a new product, not a permanent way to sell unlabelled stock.
Shipping containers
Containers sold to a business or institution and not resold to consumers at retail are generally exempt. A 25 kg sack of rice sold to a restaurant may not need French; the same sack sold to a shopper in your store does.
Quebec
The CFIA notes that Quebec has its own additional French requirements for products sold there, and refers sellers to the Quebec agriculture ministry (MAPAQ) and the Office québécois de la langue française. If you sell in Montreal or Gatineau, check those rules on top of the federal ones. For signs and business names, see business names and French language rules in Quebec.
Relabelling in practice
- Ask your Nigerian supplier whether they can print a Canadian bilingual label; for larger orders some will.
- If not, print stickers carrying all mandatory information in both languages, placed so they do not hide other required information.
- Get the French translated properly; a machine translation of an ingredient list can mistranslate local food names.
- If you relabel in Canada and sell into another province, check that your SFC licence covers labelling; see who needs an SFC licence.
- Keep a copy of each label version with the date it was used.
Worked example
Example only. A Calgary importer brings 300 cartons of English-only seasoning cubes. Printing one bilingual sticker per pack is 300 × 24 = 7,200 stickers if each carton holds 24 packs. Budget the stickers and the labour before ordering, not after the goods arrive.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account pays the Nigerian supplier and the Canadian label printer from one place, in the currency each expects, with rates and fees shown before you approve. For the wider importing process, see CFIA rules for importing Nigerian foodstuff.
Questions people ask
Do imported food labels need French in Canada?
Yes for consumer prepackaged food. The CFIA says mandatory information must be in English and French, except the dealer's name and address.
Is Nigerian food a specialty food exempt from French labelling?
Usually not. The CFIA says most imported foods do not meet the specialty food definition, which needs no readily available Canadian substitute.
Can I sell food with stickers instead of new printed labels?
The CFIA bilingual page does not deal with stickers specifically. Whatever method you use, the finished label must carry all mandatory information in both languages, legibly and in the required place.
Does a bulk sack sold to a restaurant need French?
A shipping container sold to a business and not resold at retail is generally exempt; the same pack sold to shoppers is not.
Sources
- CFIA: Bilingual food labelling (modified 3 Sep 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFIA: Industry Labelling Tool (modified 15 Jan 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- CFIA: Food business activities that require a licence under the SFCR (modified 20 Nov 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.