GUIDE

Bottle labelling and packaging

bottle labelling
and packaging

Page number

1
Basic labelling standards
1
1.1 Wine
2
1.2 Beer
3
1.3 Cider
4
1.4 Spirits
5

1.5
Unstandardized alcoholic beverages
6

1.6 Batch (lot) number
7

1.7 Character height
7
1.8 Language
7

1.9
Refundable deposit
7

1.10 Best before and expiry date
7
2 Information relating to allergies and intolerances
8

2.1
May contain allergens
8

2.2
Allergen-free
8
3 Sustainable development
8

3.1 Organic products
8

3.1.1 Organic products originating from areas other than Qubec
9

3.1.2 Organic products manufactured or bottled in Qubec
9

3.2 Products in conversion to organic farming
9

3.3 Biodynamic products
9

3.4
Fair-trade products
9

3.5 Integrated farming
9

3.6 Environmental claims
9
4 Health claims and other warnings
10

4.1
Health claim
10

4.2 Alcohol consumption warning
10

4.3
Standard drinks (UK units of alcohol)
10
5 Dealcoholized or low-alcohol beverages
10

5.1 Alcohol by volume declaration
10

5.2 Ingredients permitted in dealcoholized wines
10
6 Other labelling concepts
11

6.1 Nutrition facts table
11

6.2 List of ingredients
11
6.3 Proof 11

6.4 Imported by an organization other than the SAQ
11

6.5
Artificial flavours and graphic representation
11
7 Packaging
12

7.1
Tamper-proofing of containers
12

7.2
Standarized container sizes
12

7.3 Alternate containers
12
Appendix 1 Batch (lot) number guidelines 13

Note to the reader :

This guide is intended to assist the SAQs suppliers and their agents in labelling their products in accordance with the labelling standards in effect in Qubec and Canada. In the
event of divergence between this guide and a law or regulation in effect, the law or regulation shall prevail over the guide. Please note that this guide covers the labelling concepts
generally used for alcoholic beverages and is not necessarily exhaustive.

The following symbol is used

in this document:
Points to documents and
websites that can be consulted
for more information.

Bottle labelling and packaging

Table of contents

1. Basic labelling standards

The diagrams on the following pages are a graphical representation of the main labelling requirements for various types of
products. All labelling information is mandatory. The subsequent sections of this guide cover other labelling-related issues.
Please note that some of the information must appear on the main label, while other information may be placed on the main
label or the back label
Guide to Food Labelling
and Advertising

Regulation respecting cider

and other apple-based alcoholic
beverages

Agreement relating to the consignment, the recuperation and the

recycling of non-refillable beer
containers
(Availaible in french only)

Product Identification Standards

for Use in the Distribution of
Beverage Alcohol

Bottle labelling and packaging

Food and Drugs Act and Regulations

1.1 Wine

Produit de France Product of France

Brand name
Must not cause
confusion as to the type
or origin of the product.
Common name
Mandatory in French and
English on the main label.

Regulatory, geographic and

traditional designations
Can appear in the language
of the country of origin and
if in compliance with that
countrys regulations.

Products brand name

2010
Controlled appellation
Grape variety
Vin Wine
Suppliers name, address, city, country

Alcohol by volume
(actual alcohol)
Mandatory on the main label,
with the unit % alc./vol.

12% alc./vol.

UPC/EAN bar code

Mandatory.
Allergen alert
Mandatory in French and
English. See section 2 of
this guide for more
information.

Contient (allergne) / Contains (allergen)

750 ml

Suppliers name and address

Mandatory. Must include
the names of the city and
country. For Canada and
the USA, the province or
state name can replace
the country name.
Net contents (volume)
Mandatory on the main label
in millilitres (ml or mL) if the
container size is less than
1 litre and in litres (l or L)
for containers 1 L or larger
in size.

Bottle labelling and packaging

Country of origin
Mandatory in French and
English on the main label.

1.2 Beer

Suppliers name and address

Mandatory. Must include
the names of the city and
country. For Canada and
the USA, the province or
state name can replace the
country name.

Alcohol by volume
(actual alcohol)
Mandatory on the main label,
with the unit % alc./vol.

Refundable deposit
Mandatory as shown here,
with characters at least
4 mm (12 points) in height.
The amount of the deposit
is 5 for cans 450 ml and
smaller, 10 for glass bottles
450 ml and smaller and
20 for all containers larger
than 450 ml.

Products brand name

Bire forte

Strong Beer

Suppliers name, address, city, country

8,6% alc./vol.

Production code
QUBEC 5 CONSIGNE / REFUND

341 ml

Common name
Mandatory on the main label,
in French and English, as per
the category (bire extralgre/extra light beer from
1.1% to 2.5% alc./vol., bire
lgre/light beer from 2.6%
to 4.0% alc./vol., bire/beer
from 4.1% to 5.5% alc./vol.,
bire forte/strong beer from
5.6% to 8.5% alc./vol., bire
extra-forte/extra strong beer
8.6% alc./vol. or more).

Net contents (volume)

Mandatory on the main label
in millilitres (ml or mL) if the
container size is less than
1 litre and in litres (l or L)
for containers 1 L or larger
in size.
Production code
Mandatory, French and
English, or a production
code understandable by
consumers or an indication
of durable life (the wording
Meilleur avant/Best before
may be used).
UPC/EAN code
Mandatory.

Bottle labelling and packaging

Brand name
Must not cause confusion
as to the type or origin of
the product.

1.3 Cider

Common name
Mandatory in French and
English on the main label
and according to the
category (cidre lger/light
cider, cidre fort/strong
cider, cidre aromatis/
flavoured cider, cidre
apritif/aperitif cider, etc.).

Alcohol by volume
(actual alcohol)
Mandatory on the main
label, with the unit
% alc./vol.

Produit du Qubec Product of Qubec

Products brand name

Cidre mousseux
Cidre fort

Sparkling cider

Designation of effervescence
Mandatory on the main label,
if applicable. Crackling,
Crackling carbonated,
Sparkling, Sparkling Carbonated.

Strong cider

12% alc./vol.
Suppliers name, address, city, country

UPC/EAN code
Mandatory.
Allergen alert
Mandatory in French and
English. See section 2 of
this guide for more
information.

Brand name
Must not cause confusion
as to the type or origin of
the product.

Contient (allergne) / Contains (allergen)

750 ml

Net contents (volume)

Mandatory on the main label
in millilitres (ml or mL) if the
container size is less than
1 litre and in litres (l or L)
for containers 1 L or larger
in size.
Suppliers name and address
Mandatory. Must include
the country name. This
information may appear in
the language of the country
of origin or, for Qubec, the
name and address of the
cider makers permit holder
and the number of the permit
under which the cider is
made must be included.

Bottle labelling and packaging

Country of origin
Mandatory in French and
English on the main label.

1.4 Spirits

Country of origin
Mandatory on the main
label in French and English
for Brandy that is distilled
entirely in a country other
than Canada.

Produit de France Product of France

Products brand name

Regulatory, geographic and

traditional designations
When applicable.
May appear in the language
of the country of origin

Suppliers name and address

Mandatory. Must include the
names of the city and country. For the United States,
the name of the state can
replace the country name.
For Canadian companies,
the name of the province
must be included.

10 years of age
Brandy

Common name
In French and English.
Mandatory on the main label.

Suppliers name, address, city, country

40% alc./vol.

750 ml
Net contents (volume)
Mandatory on the main label
in millilitres (ml or mL) if the
container size is less than
1 litre and in litres (l or L)
for containers 1 L or larger
in size.

Alcohol by volume
Mandatory on the main label,
with the unit % alc./vol.

UPC code
Mandatory.
Allergen alert
Mandatory in French and
English. See section 2 of
this guide for more
information.

Brand name
Must not cause confusion
as to the type or origin of
the product.

Contient (allergne) / Contains (allergen)

Bottle labelling and packaging

When bottling in Qubec, the origin and permit number must also be included.

1.5 Unstandardized alcoholic beverages 1

Common name
In French and English.
Mandatory on the main label.

Refundable deposit
For beer based alcoholic
beverages. Mandatory as
shown here, with characters
at least 4 mm (12 points) in
height. The amount of the
deposit is 5 for cans
450 ml and smaller, 10 for
glass bottles 450 ml and
smaller and 20 for all containers larger than 450 ml.

Allergen alert
Mandatory in French and
English. See section 2 of
this guide for more
information.

Products brand name

Boisson alcoolique aromatise aux fraises
Strawberry flavoured alcoholic beverage

18% alc./vol.

750 ml

Suppliers name, address, city, country

QUBEC 5 CONSIGNE / REFUND

Ingrdients : alcool, fraises, sulfites

Ingredients: alcohol, straberries, sulphites

Suppliers name and address

Mandatory. Must include the
names of the city and country. For the United States,
the name of the state can
replace the country name.
For Canadian companies,
the name of the province
must be included.
List of ingredients
Mandatory in French and
English. Must be listed in
descending order of
proportion.

Contient (allergne) / Contains (allergen)

Unstandardized alcoholic beverages are all beverages for which no legal definition is found in the
Canadian Food and Drug Regulations.

Net contents (volume)

Mandatory on the main label
in millilitres (ml or mL) if the
container size is less than
1 litre and in litres (l or L)
for containers 1 L or larger
in size.

UPC code
Mandatory.

Bottle labelling and packaging

Alcohol by volume
Mandatory on the main label,
with the unit % alc./vol.

Brand name
Must not cause confusion
as to the type or origin of the
product.

1.6 Batch (lot) number

A batch number is a series of numbers of letters, which often refers to the production date and is printed on bottles and cases
to assure traceability.
The manufacturers lot number is required on all products purchased by continuous supply. However, as identifying products
with batch numbers is a good manufacturing practice, we encourage all our suppliers to include the batch number on their
bottles. Appendix 1 contains recommendations regarding batch numbers.
1.7 Character height
The characters must be at least 1.6 mm in height, except for the net contents numbers, which must be at least 3.2 mm in height.

Food and Drug Regulations

1.8 Language
All information and wordings included on the main label, back label, neck label and packing carton or affixed to the container
and appearing in a language other than French must also be printed in French
in characters of equal or greater height than those of the wordings in the other
Charter of the French Language
language. In addition, all descriptive marks and informative wordings in a language
other than French must be translated into French.
1.9 Refundable deposit
Mandatory only for beer and beer-based alcoholic beverages. The wording must be
QUBEC X CONSIGNE / REFUND in characters at least 4 mm (12 points) in
height. The amount of the deposit is 5 for cans 450 ml or smaller, 10 for glass
bottles 450 ml and smaller and 20 for all containers larger than 450 ml.
1.10 Best before and expiry date

Agreement relating to the consignment,

the recuperation and the recycling of
non-refillable beer containers
(Availaible in french only)

Products with a short durable life and products with a best before date must be sold
within their estimated life span. The SAQ must therefore ensure a reasonable sales period within its network.
The SAQ considers products whose estimated durable life is less than one year to be products with a short durable life. Examples of
such products are some beers and all bag-in-box (BIB) products.
A best before date is required for bag-in-box products. This date must be equivalent to a shelf life of ten months following the
filling date.

Bottle labelling and packaging

For imported products, the SAQ requires that the time period between the best before date estimated or shown on the container
and the order pick-up date be greater than nine months. Any product not meeting this requirement will be sold by the SAQ until its
best before date. The product will then be pulled from the outlets and all products in inventory, including in the warehouses, will be
destroyed (handling, disposal). The fees for non-compliant products will then be billed to the supplier.

2. Information relating to allergies and intolerances

The declaration of allergens on labels of alcoholic beverages sold in Canada is
mandatory. The allergens covered by the regulation are listed in Table 1.

Food and Drug Regulations

Table 1
List of allergens covered by the proposed Canadian legislation
Almonds

Pecans

Sesame seeds

Soybeans

Gluten*

Brazil nuts

Pine nuts

Wheat

Shellfish

Sulphites**

Cashews

Pistachios

Triticale

Fish

Hazelnuts

Walnuts

Eggs

Molluscs

Macadamia nuts

Peanuts

Milk

Mustard seed

* Gluten from the following grains: barley, oats, rye, triticale, wheat, kamut and spelt.
** When the total amount of sulphites in the pre-packaged product is 10 ppm or more.

The presence of allergens can be declared either in the ingredients list or in wording that begins with Contient / Contains.
The wording must be in both French and English. Please note that fining agents such as egg whites, casein and isinglass must
be declared using the wording Contient de luf / Contains eggs, Contient du lait / Contains milk and Contient du poisson /
Contains fish to make them more understandable to consumers.
However, for pre-packaged beer, ale, stout, porter and malt liquor, the allergen alert is mandatory only if a list of ingredients
also appears on the label.
2.1 May contain allergens
This type of wording may encourage the abusive use of precautionary labelling. Health Canada will soon finalize rules governing
this practice. At present, we do not accept such wording on the products that we sell.
2.2 Allergen-free
This notion may be confusing to consumers. Stating that a product does not contain allergens or sulphites may lead consumers to think that other similar products must contain them. For example, the wording sulphite-free on a bottle of Japanese
sake may confuse consumers about other Japanese sakes that do not have the wording on their labels (sulphite use in sake is
prohibited in Japan).

3. Sustainable development
3.1 Organic products

Please note that it is unacceptable on a label to use turns which infer that a product has been organically produced if the latter
has not been certified organic in accordance with laws and regulations in effect.

Bottle labelling and packaging

Various laws and regulations in Qubec and Canada govern the use of the term organic and its terminological equivalent
ecological. For a product distributed by the SAQ to be considered organic, it must comply with these laws and regulations.
Furthermore, the supplier must be able to provide a certificate attesting to its organic status.

3.1.1 Organic products originating from areas other than Qubec

Since June 30, 2009, a new set of regulations governing organic products has been
Canadian Organic Products
in effect in Canada. The regulations require that, to be sold on Canadian territory,
Regulations
organic products must be certified under the NOP (National Organic Program) or
COS (Canadian Organic Standard) or in accordance with the European standards
implemented through an organization accredited by CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection
Agency), the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) or European competent authorities. The name of the certification
body must appear on the label.
As specifically relates to wine, please note that wordings such as Wine made from organic grapes and equivalent wordings are
not allowed. Canadian regulations require the wording Vin biologique/Organic wine. You must be able to provide us with certificates proving your compliance with Canadian laws and regulations; this requirement applies to 2009 and all subsequent vintages.
3.1.2 Organic products manufactured or bottled in Qubec
Organic products made or bottled in Qubec must comply with the Act respecting
Reserved designations and added-value claims. The producer and the bottler must
be certified.

Act respecting Reserved designations and added-value claims

3.2 Products in conversion to organic farming

There is a so-called conversion or transition period during which a producer begins
the organic farming certification process for its crops. Unfortunately, current laws
and regulations prevent us from accepting such wordings on labels. Not allowing
them also makes things clearer for our customers.

Canadian Organic Products

Regulations

3.3 Biodynamic products

Biodynamic products are not covered by the Canadian Organic Products Regulations. However, if you wish to include such
wording on your label, you must be able to provide us with a certificate issued by a competent body supporting such a claim.
3.4 Fair-trade products
The labels of fair-trade products can carry the Fairtrade Canada mark and the wording Certifi quitable/Fair Trade Certified may be written on the label. Use of the
Fair Trade Certified mark is not mandatory. You must be able to provide the certificates proving your compliance with the fair trade certification standards.

Fairtrade Canada

3.5 Integrated farming

This notion also known as integrated production is not regulated in Canada. However, if you want to include this wording on
a label, you must be able to provide a certificate issued by a competent body supporting such a claim.
3.6 Environmental claims
Environmental Claims: A Guide for
Industry and Advertisers

Environmental claims may not be misleading or confusing. They must be accurate,

true and verifiable. We reserve the right, if necessary, to require that you provide authenticating documents (certificates or
other) and to question you about your practices. For evaluating such claims, we refer you to Environmental Claims:
A Guide for Industry and Advertisers, which is published by the Canadian Standards Association.

Bottle labelling and packaging

By environmental claims we mean all declarations, other than organic and fair
trade, that are regulated by their own organization. Examples of this would be the
use of light glass in bottle manufacturing, the recycling of manufacturing materials
or energy conservation.

4. Health claims and other warnings

4.1 Health claim
By health claim we mean any wording that could imply that the consumption of
alcoholic beverages has a beneficial effect on ones health. No wording of this type
is acceptable on the labels of alcoholic beverages that we distribute.

Code of Ethics of the Alcoholic Beverage

Industry in Qubec

4.2 Alcohol consumption warning

Warnings regarding the consumption of alcohol, such as the U.S. government warn- CFIA decision regarding the labelling
ing or the European warning about consuming alcohol during pregnancy, are accept- of alcoholic beverages
able if they are provided in French.
The acceptable French translation of the U.S. government warning is as follows:

AVIS GOUVERNEMENTAL : Selon le chef de sant des tats-Unis, les femmes ne devraient pas consommer de boissons
alcoolises pendant la grossesse vu le risque de malformation congnitale. La consommation de boissons alcoolises
diminue la capacit de conduire un vhicule ou dutiliser de la machinerie et peut causer des problmes de sant.
4.3 Standard drinks (UK units or standard drinks of alcohol)
The notional standard drink (known as a unit of alcohol in the United Kingdom and Australia) is defined differently in different
countries and is not regulated in Qubec or Canada. As a result, descriptions of this type, whose definition is likely to be unknown to consumers, risk creating confusion or being misunderstood. Accordingly, wordings such as standard drinks or UK
units are not authorized in Canada.

5. Dealcoholized or low-alcohol beverages

In Canada, to be considered a dealcoholized or low-alcohol wine, a wine must
contain less than 1.1% alcohol. Accordingly, a wine whose alcohol by volume is 1.1% is
not considered dealcoholized and would have to be described by a common name
such as partially dealcoholized wine.
5.1 Alcohol by volume declaration
The alcohol content must be printed on the label in the form % alc./vol. or, if the
product contains less than 0.5% alcohol, in the form Less than Moins de 0.5%
alc./vol.

Food and Drug Regulations

CFIA decisions regarding

the labelling of alcoholic beverages

If the alcohol content is less than 0.5%, the product is not considered an alcoholic beverage and a nutrition facts table
must be included on the label.
5.2 Ingredients permitted in dealcoholized wines

If ingredients are added that are not permitted to be added to wine, whether they are added before or after dealcoholization,
the common name dealcoholized wine is not acceptable. Such a beverage could be called a dealcoholized wine beverage. In
such cases, a list of ingredients is required.
Dealcoholized wine may contain added water as an ingredient but only in an amount to replace that which is removed during
the dealcoholization process, which generally removes water as well as alcohol. The water is returned to the wine after dealcoholization and need not be declared as an ingredient

Bottle labelling and packaging

Any ingredients that are permitted in wine (B.02.100 of the Food and Drug Regulations ) are permitted in dealcoholized
wine. However, ingredients added directly to the dealcoholized wine after dealcoholization must be declared in the list of ingredients (e.g. dealcoholized wine, sugar, glucose.).

10

6. Other labelling concepts

6.1

Nutrition facts table

Alcoholic beverages are usually exempt from having to include a nutrition facts table
on their label. However, in some very specific cases, a nutrition facts table may be
required. For example, this is the case for alcoholic beverages labelled with claims
regarding the calories they contain and for dealcoholized beverages.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has prepared a nutritional labelling toolkit.
Please note that use of the provided templates is mandatory.

Food and Drug Regulations

Nutrition Labelling Toolkit

6.2 List of ingredients

Standardized alcoholic beverages, as defined by the Canadian Food and Drug Regulations, are exempt from the requirement of including a list of ingredients on their
labels. A standardized alcoholic beverage is a beverage for which a legal definition
exists in Canada. Such beverages include wine, whisky and beer, among others.

Food and Drug Regulations

Accordingly, all unstandardized alcoholic beverages must include a list of ingredients on their labels. The ingredients must be listed in descending order of proportion. However, if all the ingredients used are
mentioned in the products name, list of ingredients is not required. For example, this would be the case for a vanilla-flavoured
vodka whose only ingredients are vodka and vanilla.
6.3 Proof
Use of the PROOF scale as a means of declaring alcoholic strength is not authorized in Canada. Besides being poorly understood by consumers, the presence of this wording may create confusion about the products actual alcohol content and is
therefore not authorized.
6.4 Imported by an organization other than the SAQ
As only the SAQ is entitled to import alcoholic beverages into Qubec, the declaration Imported by is unacceptable.
However, if the declaration is meant for a market other than Qubec and this is clearly indicated, the presence of such a declaration will be tolerated. In such cases, it must take the following form, for example: For the USA, imported by Maison du vin.
An alternate acceptable wording would be Imported for
6.5 Artificial flavours and graphic representation
Fruits and herbs are often depicted on the labels of alcoholic beverages. However,
rules apply if artificial flavours, whether alone or combined with natural flavouring
agents, have been added to the product.

Guide to Food Labelling

and Advertising

Bottle labelling and packaging

The use of an image of a fruit or herb on a label normally implies that product contains the fruit or herb. If that is not the case but rather artificial flavours have been used, the declaration imitation,
artificial or simulated must appear on or adjacent to the image of the fruit or herb.

11

7. Packaging
7.1 Tamper-proofing of containers
Containers must be sealed so that any attempt to open the container will leave
marks or signs visible to consumers.

Consumer Packaging
and Labelling Regulations

7.2 Standerdized container sizes

Standardized container sizes exist for wine. Wine may be sold only in container
sizes of 50 ml, 100 ml, 200 ml, 250 ml, 375 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml, 1 L, 1,5 L, 2 L, 3L
or 4 L.

Consumer Packaging
and Labelling Regulations

7.3 Alternate container

By alternate container we mean any container or material that is in direct contact
with the beverages and that is not traditionally used in the beverage alcohol
industry.
For each type of alternate container, you must fill out a form that specifies the
materials used. The materials in direct contact with the liquid must be authorized by
Health Canada in a letter of non-objection.

Health Products and Food Branch

Packaging Materials Assessment
Process

A confirmation that the material complies with the standards of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) or EFSA (European
Food Safety Authority) may be accepted on a temporary basis, provided the Canadian packaging materials assessment process
is completed in the 12 months following the products acceptance by the SAQ.

Bottle labelling and packaging

At the end of that period, you must be able to provide us with all documents demonstrating the containers acceptance by
Health Canada.

12

Appendix 1 Batch (lot) Number Guidelines

The goal of the following guidelines is to ensure that the batch numbers printed on the sales units are easily found,
decipherable and interpretable.
Recommended location
We recommend using one of the following three locations:

L070501

In the area located

at the base of the neck

L070501

L070501

1
3

At the bottom of
the back label

In the area located at

the base of the bottle

Legibility
The characters in which the batch number is printed must be at least 1.6 mm in height. They must also be printed so as
to provide sufficient contrast with the background.
Recommended format
We recommend using one of the following two batch number formats:
L070121, i.e. the letter L followed by the two-digit year number (07 for 2007), two-digit month number (01 for January)
and two-digit day number (21 for the 21st day).

Bottle labelling and packaging

L7021 i.e. the letter L followed by the one-digit year number (7 for 2007) and three-digit number of the day of the year
(021 for January 21).

13