Labelling of Fabric Sold at Retail

Enforcement guidelines

May 1, 1996

• Copyright and permission to reproduce

  This publication is not a legal document. It is intended to provide general information and is provided for convenience. To learn more, please refer to the full text of the Acts or contact the Competition Bureau.

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  Canada

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  © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 1996.

  Aussi offert en français sous le titre Étiquetage des tissus en vente au détail.

Required label information

1. Fibre content

A declaration of fibre content is required. It can be shown either:

• on a label fastened to the end of the bolt core or spool; or
• woven or imprinted on the selvage at intervals of 1 metre or less; or
• for narrow fabrics, (e.g. decorative trimming less than 30 cm in width) a sign placed in the immediate vicinity may be used.

For each fibre present, in an amount of 5% or more, show the generic fibre name and its amount as a percentage of the total fibre weight. List the fibres in descending order by weight, or, use a pre‑ printed label which lists the generic names alphabetically, with space provided to insert the percentage. The fibre content information is required to be bilingual unless sold in an area where only one official language is used in consumer transactions.

Examples:

Or

When the fibre content is not known, it may be declared as "100% unknown fibres".

Fibres present in amounts of less than 5%, may be declared by either their generic name or as "other fibre(s)".

Examples:

or

or

Where applicable, the term "exclusive of ornamentation," "exclusive of elastic" or "exclusive of reinforcement" may be used. Refer to the Guide to the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations, or to the Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations for further details on ornamentation, trimming, elastic yarns, reinforcement yarns, unknown fibres and narrow fabrics.

2. Dealer identity

Dealer identification is the name and complete postal address or the registered CA identification number of the manufacturer, processor, finisher, importer or retailer. Canadian dealers may purchase a registered CA number from most offices of Industry Canada, Fair Business Practices Branch.

For piece goods, dealer identification may be shown in any of the following ways:

• on the bill of sale;
• on a label attached to the end of the bolt core or spool;
• woven or imprinted on the selvage at intervals of 1 metre or less; or
• for narrow fabrics, a sign placed in the immediate vicinity may be used.

Remnants

Remnants are short lengths of cloth sold as piece goods. Where remnants of the same fibre content are sold together in a bundle, bale or package, the fibre content information may be affixed to the bundle, bale or package. Where individual remnants of the same fibre content are sold separately, the fibre content information may be posted on a sign in the immediate vicinity.

Dealer identification is not required for remnants.

Quality control

All dealers are responsible for the accuracy of fibre content declarations. Following are suggestions to assist you in meeting this responsibility:

• Confirm the fibre content information with suppliers when purchasing fabric.
• Ensure suppliers provide written confirmation of the fibre content with your order.
• Check that the fibre content identified on the invoice or fabric bolt matches the fibre content on your order.
• Retailers who label their own fabric bolts, must ensure they have a reliable system for transferring the fibre content information to their label. Retailers should maintain records of the source of the fibre content information.
• Establish a system for verifying the accuracy of fibre content declarations with in‑house screening tests or laboratory analysis.

For more detailed information please contact the Information Centre of the Competition Bureau.