CFIA Updates Fertilizer Labelling Guidance as Bulk Fertilizer Deadline Approaches
The update gives importers a clearer benchmark to check their labels against ahead of the July 2027 bulk fertilizer deadline.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its fertilizer labelling guidance in Trade Memorandum T-4-130 (Labelling requirements for fertilizers and supplements).
The memorandum includes an expanded appendix of example labels to help importers, distributors, and sellers meet their obligations under the amended Fertilizers Regulations.
The update comes ahead of a key compliance milestone. The three-year transition to the amended Fertilizers Regulations ended on October 26, 2023, and regulated parties must now comply with the amended rules.
Bulk fertilizers have been granted an extended compliance promotion period and must transition by July 31, 2027.
The examples in T-4-130 provide a useful reference for bulk fertilizer importers working toward next year’s deadline.
The update does not introduce new requirements. It sets out the current labelling requirements and includes sample labels in its appendix that regulated parties can use as a reference when designing or reviewing product labels.
Key elements addressed include:
Multi-pack and kit products remain subject to the rule that each product must be individually labelled, and the full label of each product must be visible and legible to the consumer without opening the outer packaging.
The CFIA has also updated two other related trade memoranda.
Trade Memorandum T-4-102 has been updated to more clearly set out the naming requirements for fertilizer-pesticide products.
Product names of fertilizers that contain a pesticide must include, as a suffix, the amount of the pesticide active ingredient followed by the pesticide name, in the format: Fertilizer Product Name N-P-K, X% Pesticide Name.
Trade Memorandum T-4-128 has been updated to clarify that fertilizers qualify as customer-formulated fertilizers (CFFs) in any quantity, provided they are prepared on demand in response to a written request from the grower who will use the product.
At Cole International, we offer trade consulting and customs brokerage services to help Canadian businesses navigate evolving regulatory requirements.
Reach out to one of our trade professionals to review your labels against the updated fertilizer labelling guidance and ensure compliance.