Recently, the maple leaf and references to Canada seem to be popping up all over the place. We felt it was important for consumers to know what these really mean. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Competition Bureau, the official claims permitted for origin labelling are “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada.”

Product of Canada

At least 98% of the total production costs must be Canadian. This includes ingredients, processing, and labour. While many herbs and functional foods can be grown locally, many specialized botanicals, vitamins, and minerals often come from outside Canada. That makes it difficult for most Natural Health Product (NHP) brands to consistently meet the 98% threshold.

Made in Canada

Several reputable NHP or supplement brands, including ours, fall under the “Made in Canada” designation. This requires that at least 51% of production costs, including labour and testing, are Canadian, and that the last substantial transformation—formulation, encapsulation, and bottling—happens here.

Beyond Packaging

Some companies lean on terms like “Bottled in Canada” or “Packaged in Canada.” While technically true, this accounts for only 5–10% of a product’s total value. This may occur with foreign-owned firms looking to compete with local manufacturers. This could also be the case with so-called Canadian companies that simply import finished bulk and place it into bottles once it arrives.

Bottling or packaging may add a little something to our economy, but it does not begin to compare to local production. Nor does it provide much assurance of safety or quality.

Our Standard: cGMP Certified

Not only are New Roots Herbal supplements “Made in Canada,” but they are also produced in a facility certified to current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)—the highest international standard for natural health-product manufacturing. This confirms rigorous procedures are followed at every stage, including—but not limited to—cleanliness of production spaces, strict ingredient testing, batch-testing records, equipment precision and calibration, employee training and hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, and packaging integrity. Yearly inspections by independent auditors recertify all these production aspects, which may be taken for granted in facilities that are not certified. Certified cGMP facilities can truly guarantee consistency, safety, and the highest quality of natural products.

ISO 17025–Accredited Laboratory-Tested

At New Roots Herbal, every product we produce undergoes meticulous regulatory oversight, quality assurance (QA), quality control (QC), and rigorous testing. We have a team of 6 regulatory specialists, and 19 QC and QA professionals. All our ingredients and finished products are tested in an independent ISO 17025–accredited laboratory, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and staffed by skilled scientists. Products are tested for identity, purity, potency, contaminants, and more. This comprehensive testing is performed here in Canada and goes well beyond what’s commonly required in foreign facilities. It guarantees that all New Roots Herbal products meet label claims, without unexpected revelations.

The Bottom Line

When you see “Made in Canada” on our products, you have the assurance that you are buying local and supporting our economy, but also that you are getting the highest standard of quality. Backed by cGMP certification and rigorous testing, our products represent more than Canadian pride: They deliver uncompromising quality and safety for your peace of mind.