ISED’s major role is to support Canadian industry to be competitive and efficient in the global economy, thus ensuring the economic and social wellbeing of the nationals.

To attain this, it:

• Builds competitiveness by designing and monitoring economic framework policies that guarantee competition, innovation, and efficiency; support investment and entrepreneurship; and increase confidence among consumers, businesses, and investors; 
• Invests in science and technology to ensure better production and enhanced knowledge set of the Canadians so that they are able to compete and prosper in the extreme competitive global economy. Also, it invests with the intention to discover new theories and technology to lead the market. 
• Encourages business innovation and productivity because it will help the economy to generate more jobs and create wealth. . Promoting economic development in communities encourages the development of skills, ideas and opportunities across the country.

A lot of matters fall under the jurisdiction of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; industry and technology, trade and commerce, science, consumer affairs, competition of trade, weights and measures, bankruptcy, intellectual property, investment, small business, and tourism.

There is a long list of Acts falling under ISED’s jurisdiction like, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and the Textile Labelling Act etc.

The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (CPLA) is:

“An Act respecting the packaging, labelling, sale, importation and advertising of prepackaged and certain other products.” This Act is applicable on manufacturers, processors, retailers, or the individuals who are involved in the business of importing, packaging or reselling.

In case of imported goods, the act is applicable to the goods that are sold in prepackaged containers. The Prepackaged product defined by CPLA is given as any product that is packaged in a container in such a manner that it is ordinarily sold to, used, or purchased by the consumer without being re-packaged. For example, a bottle of shampoo must be labelled since the shampoo is in a container that is purchased by the consumer.

Act clarifies that following information is necessary for any label on the product:

• The common or generic name of the product;
• A declaration of net quantity, generally in numerical count or metric units of measurement
  (although supplementary non-metric measurements may also be used); and
• The identity and address of the person by or for whom the product was manufactured, sold or imported (i.e. the dealer identification).

In case of imported goods, one of the following format can be used to label the information about dealer:

• The name and address of the Canadian dealer, preceded by the words “imported by” or “imported for”, or;
• The country of origin adjacent to the name and address of the Canadian dealer, or;
• The name and address of the dealer located outside of Canada.

It is necessary to mention the country of origin on the label according to Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act however, Canada Border Service Agency requires the country of origin to be mentioned on specific goods.