Market requirements
Selling textiles in Canada: requirements
Textile products sold in Canada need a bilingual fibre content label with the dealer's identity, and imported apparel must be marked with its country of origin. Health Canada rules cover textile flammability and lead in children's clothing. Goods made with forced labour are banned at import, and larger companies report on forced and child labour in their supply chains.
Last reviewed 3 Oct 2026 · Not legal advice
A few items for this market are still being checked against official sources and aren't listed yet.
Mandatory (law)
Required by law for textiles sold in Canada.
| Requirement | Applies to | Proof | Date | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre content and dealer identity label (bilingual)Tolerance 5% of the total mass for each fibre (Textile Labelling and Advertising Regulations s.30); not applicable to single-fibre products. | Consumer textile articles | Label with generic fibre names and % (fibres ≥ 5%), dealer name and address or CA identification number, in English and French | 1 Dec 1972 | In force | Competition Bureau – Textile labelling requirements |
| Country-of-origin markingThe Textile Labelling Act itself does not require origin; the customs marking rules do for apparel. | Imported apparel (listed in the Marking of Imported Goods Regulations) | 'Made in [country]' marking; may appear on the textile label | — | In force | CBSA Memorandum D11-3-1 |
| Textile flammability | Consumer textile products (excl. children's sleepwear) | Flame spread test resultsCAN/CGSB-4.2 No. 27.5 | 22 Jun 2016 | In force | Textile Flammability Regulations SOR/2016-194 (Justice Laws) |
| Lead in children's clothing | Clothing and clothing accessories for children under 14 | Lab test: each accessible part ≤ 90 mg/kg total leadCPSC-CH-E1001-08.3 / CPSC-CH-E1002-08.3 (or equivalent) | 2 Nov 2018 | In force | Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations SOR/2018-83 (Justice Laws) |
| Import ban on goods made with forced labour | All imports | Supply-chain evidence if goods are detained | 1 Jul 2020 | In force | CBSA Memorandum D9-1-6 (Customs Tariff item 9897.00.00) |
| Forced and child labour supply-chain reporting (S-211) | Entities meeting size thresholds that import or sell goods in Canada | Annual report by 31 May; buyers request supplier declarations and audits | 1 Jan 2024 | In force | Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (Justice Laws) |
Commonly requested by buyers
Not required by law, but many buyers ask for these.
| Requirement | Applies to | Proof | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care labelVoluntary in Canada; if used it must not mislead. | All textiles | Care symbols per CAN/CGSB-86.1 (aligned with ISO 3758)CAN/CGSB-86.1 | Competition Bureau |
| OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificateBuyer-driven, not law. Product classes I-IV set limits (Class I = babies). Certificates are issued by OEKO-TEX institutes, not by a third party such as TexPass. | All textiles; most common for children's wear, underwear, bed linen | Valid OEKO-TEX certificate number, checkable on the OEKO-TEX label checkOEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 test catalogue (tested only by OEKO-TEX member institutes) | OEKO-TEX |
| Organic / recycled content certification (GOTS, OCS, GRS, RCS)Buyer-driven, not law. In the EU, from 27 Sept 2026 a sustainability label must be based on a certification scheme or set by a public authority (Directive 2024/825), so buyers lean on these schemes more. Verify certificates in the GOTS public database / Textile Exchange certified-organisation lists. | Claims only: products sold as organic or recycled | Scope certificate for each site in the chain plus a Transaction Certificate (TC) per shipmentGOTS v7.xTextile Exchange OCS / GRS / RCS (Content Claim Standard) | Global Organic Textile Standard / Textile Exchange |
| Restricted Substances List (AFIRM RSL or brand RSL) lab testBuyer-driven. RSLs typically mirror and go beyond legal limits (e.g. EU REACH, CPSIA). The AFIRM RSL is updated roughly yearly. | All textiles; children's wear usually tested more strictly | Lab test report from an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab against the buyer's RSLEN ISO 14362-1 (azo amines)ISO 14184-1 (formaldehyde)ISO 18254-1 (APEO/NPE)EN ISO 14389 (phthalates)EN 16711-2 (extractable heavy metals)EN 17681-1 / EN 17681-2 (PFAS)ISO 3071 (pH) | AFIRM Group |
| ZDHC MRSL conformance and wastewater testingBuyer-driven. Applies to the factory's chemical inputs and effluent, not the finished garment. | Wet-processing units (dyeing, printing, finishing) supplying large brands | Chemical inventory checked against ZDHC MRSL (e.g. ZDHC Gateway / InCheck report); ZDHC wastewater test reportZDHC MRSL v3.1ZDHC Wastewater Guidelines | ZDHC Roadmap to Zero |
| Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, Sedex SMETA, SA8000, WRAP)Buyer-driven. Increasingly used as evidence for buyers' legal due-diligence duties (EU Forced Labour Regulation, CSDDD, UK Modern Slavery Act, US UFLPA). | Garment and textile factories | Audit report / certificate from the scheme's approved auditoramfori BSCISedex SMETA 4-pillarSA8000WRAP | amfori / Sedex / SAI |
| Physical performance tests (shrinkage, colourfastness, pilling, seam strength)Buyer-driven quality requirements, not law. Pass/fail limits are set by each buyer. | All garments and fabrics | Lab test report against the buyer's quality manualAATCC 135 / AATCC 150 (dimensional change)AATCC 61 (colourfastness to laundering)AATCC 8 (crocking)AATCC 15 (perspiration)AATCC 16.3 (light)ASTM D3512 / ASTM D4970 (pilling)ASTM D1683 (seam strength)ASTM D5034 (grab tensile) | AATCC |
| Fibre composition verification testBuyer-driven way of supporting the mandatory fibre label; the law requires an accurate label, not a specific test. | All textiles | Lab test report confirming the label's fibre percentagesISO 1833 series / EN ISO 1833 (quantitative chemical analysis)AATCC 20 / AATCC 20A | ISO/TC 38 Textiles |
| Better Cotton sourcingBuyer-driven. Mass-balance scheme: does not prove physical traceability of a given garment unless the traceable option is used. | Cotton products for brands that are Better Cotton members | Better Cotton Platform declarations (mass-balance volumes) | Better Cotton |
| Children's wear mechanical safety (snap/button pull, small parts, sharp edges)Commonly required by retailers. Legally, garments must be safe under general product-safety law; these methods are how buyers check it. | Children's clothing, especially under 3 years | Lab test report16 CFR 1500.51-53 (use and abuse)16 CFR 1501 (small parts cylinder)ASTM D4846 (snap fastener holding strength) | CPSC |
Testing for Canada
What TexPass can test or verify here
Tests we can arrange at NABL-accredited labs that match the rows on this page, and certificate checks on the official registries.
Tell us the product and we'll suggest the tests.
Certificate checks: GOTS, OCS, GRS and OEKO-TEX on the official registries
Questions about Canada
What does the law require for textiles sold in Canada?
Textile products sold in Canada need a bilingual fibre content label with the dealer's identity, and imported apparel must be marked with its country of origin. Health Canada rules cover textile flammability and lead in children's clothing. Goods made with forced labour are banned at import, and larger companies report on forced and child labour in their supply chains.
What do buyers in Canada commonly ask for?
Common buyer requests include: Care label; OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certificate; Organic / recycled content certification (GOTS, OCS, GRS, RCS); Restricted Substances List (AFIRM RSL or brand RSL) lab test; ZDHC MRSL conformance and wastewater testing; Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, Sedex SMETA, SA8000, WRAP); Physical performance tests (shrinkage, colourfastness, pilling, seam strength); Fibre composition verification test; Better Cotton sourcing; Children's wear mechanical safety (snap/button pull, small parts, sharp edges). Buyers ask for these; no law requires them.
Does TexPass certify textile products for Canada?
No. TexPass is not a lab or a certification body. Accredited labs issue the test reports and certification bodies issue certificates; TexPass arranges tests and certificate checks and puts the results on a passport.
This is a summary for planning, not legal advice. Confirm with your importer or a qualified adviser before relying on any item.
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