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I am reaching out for help regarding bilingual requirements for products sold in Canada, and specifically Quebec. Bill 96 regarding French language requirements goes into effect June 1, 2025. 

My companies primary retail package sold in Canada is in English and French, but the master cartons are not. Does anyone know if master cartons containing two or more retail goods must have French also? I have been searching and have not found a definitive answer. The product does not meet any of the exemption types, and is not food or medical. The master cartons will not be seen by the actual retail customer buying the product. I have thoroughly read the government document at the link below, and have searched online to get no affirmative answer. Any help would be appreciated!

https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/guide-consumer-packaging-and-labelling-act-and-regulations#Exemptions

Thanks!

Tony Dagostino

Senior Packaging Engineer

Tempur Sealy International

Hi Anthony,

If there is any text on the master carton, they must be printed in both English & French (same font size).

You can avoid this if you use icons which clearly communicate the message.

For example, instead of saying 'Keep Dry', use the icon of an umbrella with rain drops overtop of it.

Your Canadian friend,

Oksana Lapierre

I am reaching out for help regarding bilingual requirements for products sold in Canada, and specifically Quebec. Bill 96 regarding French language requirements goes into effect June 1, 2025. 

My companies primary retail package sold in Canada is in English and French, but the master cartons are not. Does anyone know if master cartons containing two or more retail goods must have French also? I have been searching and have not found a definitive answer. The product does not meet any of the exemption types, and is not food or medical. The master cartons will not be seen by the actual retail customer buying the product. I have thoroughly read the government document at the link below, and have searched online to get no affirmative answer. Any help would be appreciated!

https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/guide-consumer-packaging-and-labelling-act-and-regulations#Exemptions

Thanks!

Tony Dagostino

Senior Packaging Engineer

Tempur Sealy International

I am reaching out for help regarding bilingual requirements for products sold in Canada, and specifically Quebec. Bill 96 regarding French language requirements goes into effect June 1, 2025. 

My companies primary retail package sold in Canada is in English and French, but the master cartons are not. Does anyone know if master cartons containing two or more retail goods must have French also? I have been searching and have not found a definitive answer. The product does not meet any of the exemption types, and is not food or medical. The master cartons will not be seen by the actual retail customer buying the product. I have thoroughly read the government document at the link below, and have searched online to get no affirmative answer. Any help would be appreciated!

https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/guide-consumer-packaging-and-labelling-act-and-regulations#Exemptions

Thanks!

Tony Dagostino

Senior Packaging Engineer

Tempur Sealy International

Hi Anthony,

I agree with Oksana.

The link in your message is from the Competition Bureau, which is federal. For Quebec-specific laws, you can look at LégisQuébec, CHARTER OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE. Article 51: "Every inscription on a product, on its container or on its wrapping, or on a document or object supplied with it, including the directions for use and the warranty certificates, must be drafted in French." - source Éditeur officiel du Québec

I am reaching out for help regarding bilingual requirements for products sold in Canada, and specifically Quebec. Bill 96 regarding French language requirements goes into effect June 1, 2025. 

My companies primary retail package sold in Canada is in English and French, but the master cartons are not. Does anyone know if master cartons containing two or more retail goods must have French also? I have been searching and have not found a definitive answer. The product does not meet any of the exemption types, and is not food or medical. The master cartons will not be seen by the actual retail customer buying the product. I have thoroughly read the government document at the link below, and have searched online to get no affirmative answer. Any help would be appreciated!

https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/guide-consumer-packaging-and-labelling-act-and-regulations#Exemptions

Thanks!

Tony Dagostino

Senior Packaging Engineer

Tempur Sealy International