Bill 96 Updates: What You Need to Know About Quebec’s Language Regulations
By: Karolina Zarichna, REGULATORY, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING SPECIALIST, email
On June 27th, the Quebec government released the final version of Bill 96, An Act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec. The bill establishes French as the official and common language of Quebec. The changes may have implications on your business.
The final publication includes new regulations for businesses operating within and outside the province, building on the initial implementation and proposal of Bill 96 in 2022. Among these changes, the final Regulation (to amend mainly the Regulation respecting the language of commerce and business) now requires companies to ensure that product labels imported into Quebec are translated into French, including product descriptions and generic terms. This ensures that all product information, inscriptions, marketing materials, and signage used for products and services offered in Quebec are in French. There are a few exceptions for special cases.
In addition to product labelling, businesses providing goods and services to Quebec consumers must continue serving customers in both English and French, without showing preference for one language over the other. This requirement extends to websites, which should provide a fully French version if one is not yet available.
Provisions Regarding Product Labelling
- Perishable food products from outside Quebec can have labels in a language other than French on its original packaging as long as the product is not sold in retail stores in that packaging. Otherwise, such products must be labelled in French. Other languages can be included on the product label, but French must be given equal prominence.
- Products from outside Quebec used for medical, pharmaceutical, or scientific purposes may have inscriptions in a language other than French only if a French version is provided on the package or in a document that comes with the product. This is allowed if one of these conditions is met:
- The product is not sold in retail stores in Quebec, and there is no similar product with a French label available in Quebec.
- The product weighs 100 grams or less, or its container holds 10 cubic centimeters (10 cm³) or 10 milliliters (10 ml) or less.
If these conditions are not met, products in this category must be labelled in French. Other languages can be included but should not be more prominent than the French. Products sold at retail and advertised in Quebec must have all labels, inscriptions, and any related product information in French. Product descriptions, defined as one or more words describing the product’s characteristics, must also appear in French.
- The following information can appear on a product label in a language other than French:
- The name of a company located exclusively outside Quebec.
- The name of origin, the name of an exotic product or foreign specialty, a heraldic motto, or any other non-commercial motto.
- A place name for a location outside Quebec, a family name, a given name, the name of a personality or character, or a distinctive cultural name.
- A recognized trademark under the Trademarks Act, unless a French version is registered. If there is no French version in the trademark register, a recognized trademark (not covered by specific sections of the Charter of the French Language) can be in a language other than French. However, if the trademark includes a generic term or product description, it must be included in French on the product or a permanently attached label. A generic term is one or more word that describes the nature of the product or service.
- For all Cosmetics, 1 INCI compliant Ingredient listing that complies with the requirements of the Federal Cosmetic Regulations is required.
Deadline
The newly updated regulation will take effect on June 1st, 2025, except for the Regulations concerning the language of commerce and business (section 27.3), which will be enforced starting July 11th, 2024.
Considerations
It is important to understand that Bill 96 and its recent amendments are designed to safeguard the language rights of consumers in Quebec. Businesses should be aware that failing to comply with these language laws could lead to legal repercussions, including potential financial penalties.
Is your business seeking assistance with consumer product labelling and technical documents? Contact our team at Dell Tech today. We specialize in Canadian-French translations and offer comprehensive regulatory support across diverse product categories. Whether you’re in medical devices, natural health products, non-prescription drugs, veterinary health products, or cosmetics, we’re here to help. Reach out to us now to discover our full range of services and pricing.
Dell Tech has provided professional, confidential consulting services to the specialty chemical
industry in Canada, the USA, Europe, and Asia for the last 40 years.
English 
