Beef Labelling Requirements in Canada
Requirements and guidance can change. Always verify current requirements with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Government of Alberta and other applicable authorities before using a claim or label commercially.
A beef label can communicate the identity of the product, required consumer information and voluntary claims about how the animal was raised or how the product was produced.
Different products can have different requirements
The information required on a label depends on factors including how the beef is packaged, where it is sold and the type of product.
Producers and processors should use the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s current labelling guidance for the specific product they are selling.
Labels must not mislead consumers
Mandatory information and voluntary claims need to be accurate. A technically true statement can still create a misleading impression if important context is omitted.
Meat has specific labelling requirements
CFIA maintains dedicated guidance for meat and poultry products in addition to Canada’s broader food labelling requirements.
Grade is different from inspection
A Canadian beef grade is not the same thing as meat inspection.
Retail beef cuts may refer to the grade assigned to the carcass from which they originated, but individual retail cuts are not themselves separately graded.
Before adding a production claim to a label, website or advertisement, confirm what the claim means and whether you can support it.
Labels and websites should tell the same story
If a farm’s website describes one production system while the package communicates another, customers can understandably become confused.
Keep marketing information current when practices change.
Last reviewed: September 2026.