Competition Bureau Issues Draft Enforcement Guidelines relating to "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" Claims for Comment

OTTAWA, July 10, 2009 — The Competition Bureau is seeking public comment on its Draft Enforcement Guidelines relating to “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” Claims, as part of the Bureau’s continuing efforts to ensure transparency and predictability in its enforcement policies.

These Guidelines, consistent with the government’s commitment to extend truth in labelling for consumer products, describe the Bureau’s proposed approach to assessing “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” claims for non-food products under the false and misleading representations provisions of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and the Textile Labelling Act. The final document will replace the Bureau’s current Guide to “Made in Canada” claims.

Interested parties are invited to provide comments by e-mail, fax, or regular mail no later than October 8, 2009 to:

Andrew McAlpine, Senior Competition Law Officer
Competition Bureau
50 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0C9
Fax: 819-953-4792
E-mail: andrew.mcalpine@cb-bc.gc.ca

Responses will be posted on the Competition Bureau’s Web site unless it is specifically requested that they be kept confidential.

The Competition Bureau is an independent agency that contributes to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets and enabling informed consumer choice.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Alexa Thorp
Communications Adivsor
Public Affairs Branch
819-953-9760

For general enquiries, please contact:
Information Centre
Competition Bureau
819-997-4282
Toll free: 1-800-348-5358
TTY (hearing impaired): 1-800-642-3844