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Business Regulations Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Introduction
  2. Accessibility
  3. Consumer Products: Labelling and Safety
  4. Food: Labelling and Safety
  5. Workplace Health and Safety
  6. Health Regulations
  7. Tobacco Regulations
  8. Trade Certification
  9. Media Usage
  10. Financial Transactions and Loans
  11. Environmental Regulations and Inspections
  12. Firearms, Fireworks and Explosives
  13. Privacy and Protection of Personal Information
  14. Next Steps

1. Introduction

Whether you are starting or growing your business, you need to be aware of business regulations. Regulations set the standards and rules that ensure the Canadian marketplace is safe, consistent and fair to everyone.

Depending on the product or service you are offering, or where your business is located, you may need to meet regulation standards from any or all of the following:

  • Federal Government
  • Provincial Governments
  • Municipal Governments
  • Industry associations
  • Regulatory bodies (colleges, government approved organizations)

In addition to the information you will find in this guide, you can use BizPaL—an online search tool—to find licences and regulations that may affect your business. You can also contact us at the Business Info Line to speak to someone about starting your business.

Use online:
BizPaL

Contact the Business Info Line:
1-888-745-8888

If you have legal questions, contact a lawyer who deals with business regulations. The Law Society of Upper Canada's Lawyer Referral Service may be able to assist you in finding a lawyer, based on your needs.

Contact the Law Society of Upper Canada:
1-800-268-8326
Law Society of Upper Canada's Lawyer Referral Service

2. Accessibility

You are responsible for ensuring that your business is accessible to people with disabilities. To learn more about making your business accessible to staff and customers, consult the following:

  • Making Ontario Accessible
    Make sure that your Ontario business meets accessibility standards for customer service, transportation, information and communications, built environments, and employment.

    Contact the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario:
    1-866-515-2025 
    Making Ontario Accessible

3. Consumer Products: Labelling and Safety

The label you put on your product is an important way of communicating the value of that product to potential customers. You can use your labels to sell the benefits of your product to your clients, but you must follow labelling rules and standards.

The rules can be more restrictive for some types of products than for others. You should research the regulations and standards for your product before selling them.

Read Online:
Marketing, advertising and sales regulations

Consumer Products Labelling (Non-Food)

There are labelling standards for everyday consumer products (like t-shirts, office supplies, and pet food) that you need to know about before you begin selling products.

The Competition Bureau regulates labelling for most “non-food” consumer products. To learn more about the rules for packaging, labelling and advertising your products, contact the Competition Bureau directly or refer to the following link: 

Contact the Competition Bureau:
1-800-348-5358
Labelling Corner

The Competition Bureau also publishes individual guides on labelling requirements for certain business activities and consumer products. Refer to the following guides if you need more information on a specific aspect of labelling:

Product Safety

It is important that your products and services meet the standards for safety set by the provincial and federal governments.

If you manufacture, import, distribute or sell products in Canada, you must ensure that they are safe for use. Health Canada provides information on the regulations for clothing, accessories, hazardous materials, household products, and children’s products.

Read Online:
Consumer Product Safety

4. Food: Labelling and Safet

Food safety and proper labelling is an important concern for Canadians. Labelling standards for food products help make sure that consumers have the information they need about the food they are purchasing. If you plan on packaging, distributing, or selling food products in Canada, you must make sure they meet labelling standards.

  • Food Labelling and Advertising
    Learn about the standards that apply to labelling and advertising for all food products in Canada, including how to appropriately show net quantity, quality and composition. Food labelling requirements apply to producers, manufacturers, advertisers, importers and retailers of food products. 

    Contact Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA):
    1-800-442-2342 
    Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising
    Fair Labelling Practices Program 
     
  • Nutrition Labelling
    Learn how to properly include nutritional information or health information for your food products on labels.

    Read Online:
    Nutrition Labelling
    Nutrition Labelling, Nutrition Claims and Health Claims 
     
  • Ontario-Specific Food Labelling Regulations 
    Find out about Ontario’s food labelling regulations for specific food products like honey, meat, maple products, and more.

    Contact Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA):
    1-877-424-1300 
    Labelling and Packaging 
     
  • Foodland Ontario
    Use the Foodland Ontario logo as a marketing tool for your business. You can use the logo, free of charge, on eligible Ontario food products.

    Contact Foodland Ontario: 
    1-888-428-9668 
    Foodland Ontario – Industry Section

Food Safety

Your local health unit is the main contact for information on food safety. Local health authorities are responsible for carrying out inspections for food service businesses.

Contact your local health authority and arrange an inspection of the premises/equipment/and processes to make sure your business is complying with provincial and federal legislation.

The following link provides a list of contact information for local health authorities that perform inspections on restaurants and food businesses in Ontario.

Read online:
Local Public Health Contacts

Many municipalities have licences specific to food handling or food preparation. To determine what municipality your business falls under, you can contact the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).

Contact AMO:
1-877-426-6527 
AMO - Ontario Municipal Home Pages

The following government guides provide additional information on rules and regulations related to food safety:

5. Workplace Health and Safety

As a business owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your products and services are safe and your employees work in a healthy, safe environment.

Most employees, employers and workplaces in Ontario are covered by occupational health and safety regulations. As an employer in Ontario, your obligations include a duty to instruct, inform and supervise your workers in order to protect their health and safety.

Read Online:
Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 
Workplace Health and Safety

  • Workplace Safety and Insurance (WSIB)
    The WSIB is dedicated to helping you prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

    Most employers are legally required to register with the WSIB within 10 days of hiring an employee. You will get several benefits from registration, including:
    • No-fault workplace insurance
    • Help getting your injured employees back to work
    • Prevention and training programs
    • Protection from law suits

    Note: You will be required to pay an insurance premium.

    Contact WSIB:
    1-800-387-5540 
    The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board

To learn more about regulations for hiring employees, read our guide:
Employment Regulations Guide: Hiring

6. Health Regulations

If your business produces or sells health products or cosmetics, you are required to know what licences, permits, and tests are needed before you produce and sell your product. Health Canada regulates health products, and medical devices in Canada. To learn about the requirements for health products and medical devices, refer to the information below:

  • Drugs and Health Products (therapeutic):
    You are responsible for ensuring that the drugs and health products you produce or sell are approved for use in Canada. The regulations apply to products such as cough and cold medicine, over the counter drugs, toothpaste and antiperspirant.

    Contact Health Canada:
    1-800-267-9675 
    Drugs and Health Products 
     
  • Medical Devices: 
    If you produce or sell medical devices, you must ensure that they have accurate labels and meet Health Canada’s standards. The labels must list the materials used, evidence of the product's safety, as well as the recall and correction procedures.

    Contact Health Canada:
    1-800-267-9675
    Medical Devices
    Class of Medical Devices 
     
  • Natural Health Products:
    Your natural health products must meet Canadian standards for importing, distributing, storing, manufacturing, packaging, and labelling before you can sell them in Canada.

    Contact Health Canada:
    Natural Health Products Compliance Guide 
    Natural Health Products Regulations
    Product Licensing 
     
  • Cosmetics 
    If you are producing or selling cosmetics products, you must ensure that they meet the Health Canada's cosmetics standards and labelling requirements.

    Contact Health Canada: 
    1-866-662-0666 
    General Requirements for Cosmetics

7. Tobacco Regulations

Tobacco regulations affect almost every business. Rules apply if you are importing, selling, or marketing tobacco products, as well as for your staff or customers who want to smoke.

In addition to the federal and provincial information listed below, contact the municipality where you will be operating for information on local tobacco laws.

  • Smoke-Free Ontario 
    Find out what your responsibilities are for marketing, packaging or displaying tobacco products. You must also follow the regulations that apply to smoking in public places like offices, shops, or bars and restaurants.

    Contact your local Public Health Unit: 
    Public Health Unit Locations 
    Smoke-Free Ontario – How the Act Affects You 
     
  • Tobacco Retail Dealer’s Permit 
    You need a tobacco retail dealer’s permit from the Ministry of Finance to buy or receive tobacco products for resale in Ontario.

    Contact Ministry Of Finance: 
    1-866-668-8297 
    Tobacco Retail Dealer’s Permit 
     
  • Tobacco Control
    If you plan to produce tobacco products or allow the consumption of tobacco products in areas under federal control, make sure you are complying with Health Canada’s tobacco regulations.

    Contact Health Canada: 
    1-866-318-1116 
    Tobacco Legislation

8. Trade Certification

In Ontario, you need to be certified to work in certain trades. If you or your employees will be working in the trades, you must ensure that you meet any mandatory certification requirements. Industries that require training or certification include:

  • Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician
  • Electrician: Domestic & Rural
  • Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
  • Crane Operators
  • Sheet Metal Workers
  • Plumber
  • Hairstylist

You can often become certified in your trade, even if certification is not mandatory. More information about mandatory and voluntary trade certification is available from Employment Ontario.

Contact Employment Ontario:
1-800-387-5514 
Trade Certification   

9. Media Usage

Media related industries, like music, movies, television broadcasts, phone services and internet services, are regulated in Canada. If your business will be offering, using or working with these types of media, it is important to be aware of the following:

  • Telecommunications Regulations
    If you work in the telecommunications industry, including television and radio broadcasting, you should contact the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for information on the regulations that may apply to your business.

    Contact CRTC:
    1-877-249-2782 
    Broadcasting Sector 
    Telecommunications Sector  
     
  • Music Licence 
    When your business uses recorded music, you are responsible for obtaining the right licence(s) for that use. The Copyright Board of Canada works with individual copyright collective societies who provide music licensing. Contact the following two organizations for more information. 

    Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) Music Licence
    SOCAN is a not-for-profit organization that represents the performance rights of music creators and music publishers. They can help you learn about your obligations and obtaining the required license(s). 

    Contact SOCAN: 
    1-800-557-6226 
    Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada 

    Re:Sound Music Licensing Company 
    Re:Sound is the Canadian not-for-profit organization that represents the performance rights of artists and record companies, and provides the legally required license(s) for businesses. You can get help determining what licence(s) will be required, what the licensing process will be and how much it will cost. 

    Contact Re:Sound: 
    1-877-309-5770 
    Re:Sound 
     
  • Film, Video and Video Game Regulations
    Learn about your legal obligations for selling or renting films, video/DVD, or video games. If you will be showing films in public, you may need an additional licence. 

    Contact the Ministry of Consumer Services: 
    1-800-268-6024 
    Licences, Applications and Permits: Theatres Regulation Unit

10. Financial Transactions and Loans

Many types of financial transactions are regulated in Canada. If your business offers financial services or works with businesses that do (e.g. accounting or legal services), you should consult the following:

  • Financial Transactions and Reporting
    You are required to report certain types of business transactions, including:
    • Large financial transfers
    • Currency exchange
    • Securities
    • Insurance
    • Real estate
    • Sale of precious metals and stones
       
    Contact Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC):
    1-866-346-8722 
    FINTRAC – What you need to know …  
     
  • Financial Services Regulations
    If you have a financial service business, such as a credit union, insurance company or mortgage brokerage, contact the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) for information on licensing and regulations.

    Contact FSCO: 
    1-800-668-0128 
    FSCO – Our Services and Regulated Sectors 
     
  • Payday Lenders and Loan Brokers’ Licence
    Your business must be licenced if you provide payday loans or broker services.

    Contact Ministry of Consumer Services (MCS):
    1-800-889-9768 
    Payday lenders and loan brokers’ licences

11. Environmental Regulations and Inspections

You may need to follow environmental regulations and meet certain environmental standards depending on your business activities.

Common environmental regulations that apply to businesses in Ontario include:

  • Ontario Environmental Certificate of Approval 
    You will need a Certificate of Approval from the Ministry of Environment if your business:
    • Releases contaminants (pollutants) into the air, onto land, or into water
    • Provides potable water supplies
    • Stores, transports or disposes waste
       
    Contact the Ministry of the Environment:
    1-800-461-6290
    Environmental Approvals 
     
  • Permits to Take Water 
    Learn about permits that are required if your business takes more than 50,000 litres of water a day from a lake, river, stream or groundwater source.

    Read Online:
    Permits to Take Water 
     
  • Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines 
    If you use chemicals in your business that can pollute the land and the water nearby, there are environmental guidelines that you will need to follow.

    Read Online:
    Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines 
     
  • Wild Animal and Plant Trade
    If you will be importing, exporting or transporting certain wild animal or plant species, you must obtain the appropriate documents (e.g., licences, permits). The regulations apply to all protected plants or animals, alive or dead, as well as to their parts and any derived products.

    Contact Environment Canada:
    1-800-668-6767 
    Wild Animal and Plant Protection

12. Firearms, Fireworks and Explosives

The use of firearms and explosives is regulated in Canada. Additional regulations will apply to your business if you buy or sell firearms, fireworks or explosives.

13. Privacy and Protection of Personal Information

There are rules that you must follow if you collect, use, store and protect client information. These rules cover information like contact information, medical records, and correspondence (email, fax, letters).

Read online:
Privacy and your Business

You can learn more about privacy and your business from the following resources: 

  • Personal Information Protection
    Find out what client information you can collect, use, or disclose while doing business, and what responsibilities you have to protect this information.

    Contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada:
    1-800-282-1376 
    Privacy Guide for Small Businesses: The Basics 
     
  • Medical Record Regulations
    Find out what your obligations are if your business will be handling medical records, or working with organizations involved in the collection of health information.

    Contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC):
    1-800-387-0073 
    Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
     
  • Personal Information Collection 
    If your business collects personal information (e.g. collection agencies, consumer reporting agencies, personal information investigators), you need to be licensed with the Ministry of Consumer Services (MCS). 

    Contact MCS:
    1-800-889-9768 
    Licenses, Applications and Permits

14. Next Steps

Ontario Industry Information

You can find information on the following industries through the Ontario government website: 

  • Agriculture and Food
  • Automotive
  • Construction
  • Education and Training
  • Entertainment and Creative Arts
  • Mining
  • Plastics
  • Tourism

Read Online:
Business Information by Industry  

The information and resources provided in this guide are a first step towards learning about the regulations that can affect your business. You may want to consult the following resources for additional information:

Provincial Laws, Regulations, Consultations, and Announcements

Federal Laws, Regulations, Consultations, and Announcements

You can also find books, magazines and other relevant print material at business service organizations in your community that provide Canada Business Ontario (CBO) information. Contact us through the Business Info Line at 1-888-745-8888 for a location near you.

Need more information?

Click: Canada Business
Call: The Business Info Line, a collaboration between ServiceOntario and Industry Canada, at 1-888-745-8888
Visit: Find a Community Partner Location near you

DISCLAIMERS

Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Some of the organizations listed above are not subject to the federal Official Languages Act or the French Language Services Act of Ontario. Their services may not be available in both official languages.

Date Modified: 2012-04-26

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