Stuff "made in Canada" to get more Canadian

by julianw | July 15, 2008 at 08:39 pm | 711 views | 14 comments

Under present food labelling guidelines, products can be marked as "Made in Canada" or "Product of Canada" if at least 51 per cent of their production costs were incurred within our borders. That means, for example, that apple juice made from apples from China can be "Made in Canada." It's a shockingly loose rule if you think about it for too long. Thankfully, the Conservative government thought about it for too long and is introducing new, stringent labelling guidelines that require "Made in Canada" products to be much more Canadian.

New guidelines for applying the Product of Canada label to food -- closing loopholes in existing legislation making it possible to confuse or mislead consumers -- were unveiled Wednesday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The reforms to practices that haven't changed for more than 20 years were praised by food industry officials and an opposition MP.

The new rules protect consumers, Harper said at a fruit farm in Ontario's Niagara region.

Under existing regulations, food can be labelled either 'Made in Canada' or 'Product of Canada' if 51 per cent of the direct costs of producing or manufacturing the goods are incurred in the country and the last substantial changes to the goods occurred in Canada.

"It is time to tighten up the definitions so Canadians know exactly what they're getting and get exactly what they want," Harper said.

Add a comment Comments (14)

azzayindia
good stuff:

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff.

joshpuffpuff

Some cherries at a hundred year old market in London

joshpuffpuff has contributed a photo to this story.

Michael Schade

Michael Schade has contributed a photo to this story.

Mike Wood
good stuff:

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Good news. It's about time the government took this step.

 

derobert

Well, I don't think my apples would count as Canadian under the new rules — or the old. But, hey, Google tells me Fuji apples grow in Canada. So let's pretend...

derobert has contributed a photo to this story.

Peru Treker

I make it a rule to buy seasonal fruits at the local farmers markets. It is hard to know exactly what we are buying any more once it arrives at the grocery store. Is it genetically altered, cloned, organic, origins, etc.? So many unknowns for our most basic need in life.

Peru Treker has contributed a photo to this story.

SEATTLEDREDGE

Canadian Berries are always better than berries that have been shipped internationally. They are fresh and tasty!

SEATTLEDREDGE has contributed a photo to this story.

KDAY RACING

These are delicious cherry's from the cherry tree in my yard.

KDAY RACING has contributed a photo to this story.

missknits
good stuff:

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff.

JAK H

Lovely!

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Balázs Simon

Nice story :)

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dede_rom

it's all "made in Taiwan"  =)

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mandgs

fresh picked blueberry

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kobiz7

hay that is my photo from school work that i have to make for a design
check out my other stuff in flicker search by name kobiz7

kobiz7 has contributed a photo to this story.

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July 15, 2008 at 08:39 pm by julianw, 711 views, 14 comments

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azzayindia
First Flagged at 10:37 PM, Jul 15, 2008 by azzayindia
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