To Whom Does the Law Apply?

Quebec's Act Respecting Reserved Designations and Added-Value Claims applies to any individual or group fabricating agricultural foods and products and wishing to distinguish their products from others of the same category, and also wishing to maintain control over the characteristics of their products and to prevent others from imitating or appropriating their designation.

The Act was developed and introduced as a strategic and multi-facetted means of providing:

A key element for economic growth

The Act serves to encourage and stimulate diversification in agri-food production within a given region or area. It incites producers to market added-value agri-food products and foodstuff and also secure their protection through the use of reserved designations.

Generally, applications for a designation pertain mainly to products such as cheese, fruits and vegetables, meats and prepared meat products, and honey.

The promotion of specific products can benefit rural areas, particularly those that are underdeveloped or in remote regions. Farmers can improve their revenues and help anchor base populations within these regions.

Legal protection for producers

It is important to protect our own designations and labels against imitation or encroachment, and to provide registered designations with official legal protection, particularly at the international level.

In the European Union for instance, had protection and support systems not been introduced, it would have been difficult to prohibit Italy from manufacturing Paris mushrooms. Also, the agreements established to protect registered designations in Europe are in direct line with a protection system developed by the World Trade Organization.

Protection for consumers

Regulation is based on agreements of mutual confidence, and they provide a policy framework for consumer protection.

Consumers have been submitting an increasing number of information requests as to the origin, nature, and production or processing methods used in the foods they buy. Given the diversity of products now on the market and the overload of information covering them, consumers need detailed information on the specific characteristics of their foods.