Exporting Your Goods

Packaging & Labelling

For shipment abroad, each market has specific packaging and labelling requirements. The following six questions and answers can help you explore the issues you need to address:

What do we need to consider in terms of packing our goods for export?
What should we assume in terms of how our goods will be handled?
Is there a guide we can use on packing?
What markings are required on shipping containers?
What are the usual requirements for package labelling?
Where can we find out the requirements for product labelling for our export market?

What do we need to consider in terms of packing our goods for export?
  • Are goods fragile?
  • Whether or not the goods need a controlled climate
  • Whether or not the goods will be damaged by moisture
  • The weight of the goods
  • The dimensions of the goods
  • The port facilities in the export market

What should we assume in terms of how our goods will be handled?

Assuming the worst case scenario, your packed goods may be dragged, dropped, thrown down a chute, pushed, rolled, or stacked on top of, or below, other items. At their destination, there may not be proper facilities for storage (or there may be a delay in putting them in storage), and the goods may be left outdoors where they are subject to the environment or pilferage.

Is there a guide we can use on packing?

Yes, there are two useful guides:


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What markings are required on shipping containers?

The marks shown on the shipping container must agree with those on the commercial invoice or bill of lading, and may include some or all of:

  • The buyer’s name or some other form of agreed identification
  • The port of entry into the importing country
  • The gross and net weight of the product in kilograms and pounds
  • Identification of the country of origin (i.e., “Made in Canada”)
  • The number of packages
  • Appropriate warning or cautionary markings (e.g., “this side up” along with the corresponding international pictorial symbols)
  • A packing list, plus one copy in each container, itemizing the contents

What are the usual requirements for package labelling?

The labels on your packages must be in English and the language of the country you are shipping to in order to avoid any confusion, as well as meeting the customs regulations of the export market. The labels must include details such as where the product was made or manufactured, the name of the producer or shipper, and certain product details (i.e. weight, ingredients, etc.) but yet be vague enough to conceal the actual product’s identity in order to protect the goods from theft.

Where can we find out the requirements for product labelling for our export market?

For labelling of products being exported from Canada, try the Competition Bureau’s Labelling Assessment Tools. For requirements for importing into a foreign market, check the information from the World Customs Organization and from the national government.

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