MANDATORY PRODUCT LABELING GUIDELINES.

MANDATORY PRODUCT LABELING GUIDELINES.
Province of British Columbia, Canada
Version 1.1 (2026)
(Forms part of the Master Vendor Agreement and Prohibited Items & Services Policy)

1. PURPOSE & LEGAL STATUS

These Mandatory Product Labeling Guidelines establish minimum compliance standards

for all Food Vendors operating on the CMarket Platform.
These Guidelines:
Form an enforceable contractual obligation.
Apply to every individual packaged food item delivered to a Customer.
Do not replace Vendor’s obligation to comply with:
Safe Food for Canadians Act
Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)
Food and Drugs Act
Food and Drug Regulations
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act

Applicable BC Public Health Act requirements
Regional Health Authority requirements
Vendor bears sole and full legal responsibility for labeling compliance.
CMarket Ltd.:
Does not inspect, verify, approve, certify, or audit labels.
Does not assume any regulatory role.
Does not provide labeling advice.

2. MANDATORY LABEL ELEMENTS

Each individual food package must contain a clear, legible, durable label including:
A. Product Identity
Accurate common name of the food.
No misleading branding or descriptive claims.
No implication of certification unless verified.
B. Vendor Identification
Legal Business Name (not trade nickname alone)
Business contact information (email or phone)
Where required by law: physical

business location
C. Net Quantity Declaration
Where required by law:
Net quantity in metric units (grams, kilograms, milliliters, etc.)
Displayed prominently
Compliant with Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act
Vendor is responsible for compliance with measurement standards.
D. Production Date & Lot Code
Date of preparation or packaging

Traceable batch or lot identifier
Sufficient traceability to enable recall
Vendor must maintain internal batch records for a minimum of 12 months.
E. Complete Ingredient List
Listed in descending order by weight
Includes all sub-ingredients
Includes food additives and preservatives
No omission of compound ingredients
F. Priority Allergen Declaration (CRITICAL)

A separate and conspicuous allergen statement is required.
Example:
CONTAINS: Peanuts, Milk, Wheat (Gluten)
Where cross-contamination risk exists:
MAY CONTAIN: Tree Nuts, Soy, Sesame
Failure to properly disclose allergens:
Constitutes material breach
May result in immediate suspension
May trigger indemnification obligations

G. Durable Life / Best Before
Where required under Canadian regulations:
Best Before date required for foods with durable life of 90 days or less
Proper date format required
Vendor remains solely responsible for spoilage risk and compliance.
H. Storage & Handling Instructions
Where applicable:
Keep Refrigerated
Keep Frozen
Reheat to Internal Temperature___°C
Consume within ___ hours after opening
Vendor bears full liability for food safety outcomes.
I. Nutrition Facts Table (Where Required)
Where required under Canadian labeling law:
Nutrition Facts Table must comply with federal formatting standards.
Vendor is responsible for determining whether exemption applies (e.g., small-scale producer exemptions).

CMarket Ltd. does not verify exemption eligibility.

3. HOME-BASED FOOD DISCLOSURE (BC)

Where Vendor operates under BC low-risk home-based food guidelines, labels must include:
“NOT FOR RESALE. This food has been prepared in a kitchen that is not routinely inspected by a regulatory authority.”
Vendor is solely responsible for determining eligibility under home-based regulations.
Platform does not confirm compliance or approval.

4. PACKAGING & LABEL DURABILITY

Labels must be:
Securely affixed
Waterproof or smudge-resistant
Legible under normal storage conditions
Resistant to detachment during transport
Tamper-evident packaging is required for ready-to-eat foods.
Vendor assumes full liability for packaging failures.

5. PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED CLAIMS

Without verified third-party certification, Vendor shall not make:
“Certified Organic” claims
“Gluten-Free” claims unless compliant with Canadian threshold requirements
“Allergen-Free” claims without validated controls
Medical, therapeutic, disease-treatment, or prevention claims
“Health Canada Approved” or similar government endorsement claims
Misleading labeling constitutes:
Material breach
Immediate removal grounds

Possible reporting to regulatory authorities

6. RECORD RETENTION & TRACEABILITY

Vendor must:
Maintain ingredient sourcing records
Maintain supplier documentation
Maintain batch production logs
Maintain recall traceability data
Records must be retained for minimum 12 months or longer if required by law.
Vendor must provide records within 48 hours upon Platform request.

7. RECALL COOPERATION OBLIGATION

In the event of:
Suspected contamination
Allergen mislabeling
Regulatory inquiry
Consumer illness complaint
Vendor must:
Immediately notify Platform
Immediately cease affected sales
Fully cooperate with recall efforts
Bear all recall-related costs

Platform may suspend Vendor pending investigation.

8. PLATFORM ENFORCEMENT & NON-ASSUMPTION OF DUTY

CMarket Ltd. may remove listings, suspend Vendors, restrict payouts, or implement emergency measures where labeling appears:
Inaccurate
Incomplete
Misleading
Unsafe
Non-compliant
Vendor acknowledges:
Platform review does not

constitute approval.
Platform does not assume regulatory oversight.
No duty of inspection is created.
No reliance on Platform is permitted.

9. INDEMNIFICATION FOR LABELING CLAIMS

Vendor shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CMarket Ltd., including its directors, officers, employees, and affiliates, from:
Allergen-related claims
Mislabeling claims
Regulatory fines
CFIA investigations

Class actions
Foodborne illness claims
Recall costs
Legal fees and settlements
This obligation survives termination.

10. SURVIVAL

All labeling obligations, indemnities, and recall responsibilities survive termination of Vendor access to the Platform.