In September 2003, the Competition Bureau received a complaint about misleading "Made in Canada" claims on fastener products sold at retail. The complaint alleged that these types of products are no longer manufactured in Canada.

Under the misleading representation section of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, s.7, and of the Competition Act, s.74.01, it is illegal to make a false statement on a label or in any representation regarding a product or a service.

After discussions with the Bureau, two major distributors of the products agreed in writing to:

• correct all packages that misrepresent the country of origin;
• correct all in stock packaging; and
• ensure future packaged products are in compliance.

This issue was resolved in April 2004.

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