Canada: Compliance

Canada's whisky and spirits market presents significant opportunities for international producers, but success requires careful navigation of a dual regulatory framework. Federal laws govern production standards, excise duties, and labelling requirements, while each province maintains its own liquor authority controlling distribution, sales, marketing, and pricing within its borders. Understanding these overlapping jurisdictions and tailoring market entry strategies to provincial variations is essential for

A recent Alberta court decision provides critical guidance on Canadian sanctions compliance, examining how businesses must assess whether counterparties are controlled by sanctioned entities through voting power, board composition, and governance structures. The case demonstrates that sanctions screening extends far beyond checking names on official lists, requiring deeper analysis of corporate ownership chains and practical control mechanisms.

Health Canada has launched a public consultation on a proposed mandatory food packaging framework that would require notifications for all food contact materials sold in Canada. The initiative aims to enhance oversight of chemical exposures through a new knowledgebase system that cross-references submitted information against evaluated materials, with a five-year phase-in period anticipated following regulatory development.