What's the difference between 'Made in Canada' and 'Product of Canada'?

'Made in Canada' means the product underwent its last substantial transformation in Canada, while 'Product of Canada' typically indicates that all or virtually all of the product's content originated in Canada.

How can I verify if a product is actually made in Canada?

Check the product label for official 'Made in Canada' marking, look for Canadian company registration, verify with the manufacturer's website, and check government databases when available.

Are there official Canadian government resources to verify product origin?

Yes, you can check Industry Canada databases, CFIA for food products, and Health Canada for regulated products to verify Canadian origin claims.

How to check if a product is "Made in Canada" (vs. "Product of Canada") — a practical, shopper-first guide

Canadians care where things come from—but labels can be confusing. This guide shows you, step-by-step, how to verify "Made in Canada" and "Product of Canada" claims on food and non-food items, what the qualifiers actually mean, and when official resources are worth checking.

2025-09-16 By OriginSelect Editorial 8 min read Product Verification

As Canadians, we value local products and want to support our economy. But navigating "Made in Canada" vs. "Product of Canada" labels can be confusing. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly what these labels mean and how to verify them.

Understanding the Labels

"Made in Canada" means the product underwent its last substantial transformation in Canada, with at least 51% Canadian content. "Product of Canada" is more stringent - requiring virtually all content to originate in Canada.

How to Verify

Check product labels, manufacturer websites, and official government databases. For food items, the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) provides verification resources. Non-food products can be checked through Industry Canada.

Key Verification Steps

Look for official "Made in Canada" or "Product of Canada" labels on packaging
Check the manufacturer's website for country of origin information
For food products, verify with CFIA's product database
For non-food items, check Industry Canada's Canadian manufacturers directory
Be aware of misleading claims like "Designed in Canada" vs "Made in Canada"

Why It Matters

Supporting Canadian-made products helps local jobs, reduces environmental impact from shipping, and ensures compliance with Canadian safety and quality standards. Understanding verification helps you make informed purchasing decisions.

TL;DR checklist (save this)

1. Read the exact claim on the label.
On foods, "Product of Canada" means virtually all ingredients, processing, and labour are Canadian (CFIA treats "all or virtually all" as ~98%). "Made in Canada" is allowed when the last substantial transformation happened here, and it must include a qualifier such as "from imported ingredients" or "from domestic and imported ingredients."

2. Multi-country "Product of X & Y" on food isn't acceptable.
A product can have only one country of origin (at minimum, where the last substantial transformation occurred). Use qualified "Made in Canada" instead when ingredients come from multiple places.

3. For non-food goods, origin marks aren't always mandatory.
But any voluntary origin claim must be truthful and not misleading (Competition Act; Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act; Textile Labelling Act). For non-food, the Competition Bureau's guidance generally uses 98% direct-cost content for "Product of Canada" and 51%+ direct-cost content plus Canadian transformation for "Made in Canada" (often with a qualifier).

4. Optional official lookups (for regulated items).
For supplements (NHPs) and OTC drugs, Health Canada provides public databases you can check yourself: LNHPD (NPN/DIN-HM) and DPD (DIN). These are optional shopper tools we link to.

5. Watch for red flags.
"Made in Canada" on food without a qualifier; multi-country "Product of … & …" claims; a maple leaf used in a way that implies origin without a clear nearby statement.