Canadian importers and retailers are responsible for ensuring that consumer textile products carry compliant disclosure under the Textile Labelling Act and Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations. For bedding, quilts, bedspreads, towels, curtains, cushion covers and other home textiles sourced from India, fibre declarations and dealer identity should be approved before labels and packaging are printed.
The Competition Bureau administers federal textile labelling rules. Quebec may have additional French-language requirements for products marketed in that province. This guide is an operational overview; the importer should check the current legislation and provincial requirements for its product and market.
1. Show fibre content by generic name and percentage
For each fibre present at 5% or more of the total mass of fibres in the article, the label generally must show the prescribed generic fibre name and percentage by mass. Fibre names and percentages should be listed accurately and in the required order. Where the article contains different sections with different fibre contents, the label must identify the sections and show the relevant fibre information.
Do not rely on a fabric supplier’s commercial description when creating the final label. Obtain a fibre composition breakdown for each product component. For a filled quilt or comforter, review the shell and filling separately and confirm how the legal rules apply to the article. If the fibre type cannot be determined, the regulations permit specified disclosure terms in defined circumstances, with the percentage identified.
2. Fibre information must be bilingual
The generic fibre names and information that relates to fibre content must generally appear in both English and French. For example, “65% Cotton / 65% Coton” and “35% Polyester / 35% Polyester”. The dealer identity and country of origin, when required, do not generally have the same bilingual treatment under the federal textile rules. Check the language requirements that may separately apply in Quebec.
3. Include the Canadian dealer identity
The label must show the responsible dealer’s company name and mailing address or an eligible CA Identification Number. The CA number is available to eligible Canadian manufacturers, processors, finishers, importers and sellers. A supplier or exporter located in India should not invent or use a CA number on behalf of a Canadian customer. The importer should provide its correct legal dealer identity and confirm the form of disclosure it will use.
4. Check whether the article needs a permanent label
A permanent label is required for many consumer textile articles, including bed linens, towels, draperies, quilts, bedspreads, blankets and comforters. The federal guidance describes a permanent label as one that remains attached and legible through ten cleanings. Certain other textile products may use a non-permanent label, such as a hang tag, sticker or wrapper, depending on the applicable schedule and product type.
Do not assume every home textile can use a removable hang tag. Confirm the product classification and label form against the schedules to the regulations and the Competition Bureau’s guidance.
5. Importing goods that need relabelling
The regulations contain a process for importing certain textile articles that are incompletely or improperly labelled and completing the labelling in Canada, provided the importer follows the required notification procedure and conditions. This should not be treated as a general exemption to import goods with missing labels. Before using this route, the Canadian importer should notify the Competition Bureau officer as required, provide the pertinent details and arrange relabelling at the stated premises.
6. Build a label approval matrix
- Confirm the Canadian product category and whether it is a consumer textile article.
- Obtain fibre composition and component breakdowns from the Indian supplier.
- Check generic fibre names and percentages at the 5% threshold.
- Prepare bilingual English/French fibre disclosure.
- Insert the Canadian dealer name and address or valid CA number.
- Confirm permanent or non-permanent label treatment for the product.
- Review Quebec language obligations separately where applicable.
- Approve final artwork against the actual production specification.
How Vanguard Sourcing can support label coordination
Within an agreed project scope, Vanguard Sourcing can coordinate fibre declarations from Indian factories, sample label reviews, artwork changes and packaging follow-up. The Canadian dealer/importer is responsible for the accuracy and legality of the final label, its own dealer identity and provincial language requirements.
Related resources: India Sourcing Partner for Canadian Importers, Home Décor and Textile Sourcing for Canadian Buyers and Home Textile Sourcing in India.
