Registration
- Required
- Yes
- Type
- permit
- Cost
- Varies by MAPAQ permit category
- Inspection
- Yes
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ProvinceRestrictive
Quebec cottage food rules
Review sales limits, online sales, registration, labeling, venues, shipping, foods, and source notes for this jurisdiction.
Sales limit
100 kg/month home-kitchen production limit for cooked/prepared products
Online sales
Conditional
Registration
Required
Training
Required
Current law details
Start with the summary, then verify locally.
Quebec permits some home-kitchen preparation for retail sale, but it is permit-driven and capped at 100 kg of food per month. Wholesale from a domestic kitchen is prohibited, and producers who exceed 100 kg/month must use a place dedicated only to preparing food for sale. Most processed agricultural products require a retail permit in the 'preparation generale' category. Fresh whole fruits and vegetables produced by the seller may be sold without a permit.
Setup requirements
Registration, training, and labeling details.
These are the common operating requirements sellers check before launching or changing sales channels.
Training
- Required
- Yes
- Type
- Food hygiene and sanitation training requirements may apply by permit category
- Cost
- Varies
- Validity
- Check MAPAQ requirements
Labeling
"No cottage food disclaimer identified; Quebec food labelling rules and federal labelling rules apply."
- Common name of the food
- Producer or business name and contact information
- Ingredient list when required for prepackaged products
- Priority allergen, gluten source, and added sulphites declaration when present
- Net quantity for consumer prepackaged products when required
Sales channels
Allowed venues and fulfillment methods.
Confirm how customers are allowed to buy, receive, or pick up products before opening a sales channel.
Sales venues
Home sales
Allowed
Farmers markets
Allowed
Roadside stands
Allowed
Events
Allowed
Retail stores
Not allowed
Restaurants
Not allowed
Online
Allowed
Domestic-kitchen processed foods are retail only and may not be wholesaled to an intermediary for resale. A retail permit can allow sale at the place of operation, online, public markets, kiosks, or special events.
Shipping and delivery
- In-province/territory
- Allowed
- Out-of-province/territory
- Not allowed
- Commercial carriers
- Allowed
- Third-party delivery
- Allowed
Online and retail delivery may be possible under the correct permit. Wholesale and interprovincial activity require additional review.
Product categories
Allowed food categories.
Allowed and limited categories are only a planning aid. Check official guidance before selling a specific recipe.
Baked goods
Allowed
Candy and confections
Allowed
Jams and jellies
Allowed
Acidified foods
Limited
Canned goods
Limited
Dried goods
Allowed
Perishables
Limited
Meat products
Not allowed
Dairy products
Not allowed
Fresh whole fruits and vegetables from the producer may be sold without a permit. Prepared or transformed products generally require the appropriate retail permit. Meat, dairy, raw milk, and many agricultural products have separate MAPAQ rules.
Updates and cautions
Check these notes before making changes.
Recent updates and warnings are included to help you spot issues that may need extra verification.
Recent legislative updates
Quebec/MAPAQ domestic kitchen guidance update
Effective: June 16, 2025
Quebec guidance states that domestic-kitchen prepared foods for sale cannot be wholesaled and must not exceed 100 kg/month; larger production requires a dedicated food-preparation location.
Important warnings
- Canadian federal law still applies to food safety, labelling, allergens, net quantity, traceability, import/export, and interprovincial trade.
- A Safe Food for Canadians licence is generally required to manufacture, process, package, or label food for interprovincial or export trade.
- Province and territory summaries below focus on local home-based or low-risk food pathways and do not replace municipal business, zoning, market, or tax requirements.
- Quebec is permit-driven and French-language source details matter; operators should confirm with MAPAQ before selling prepared foods.
- Wholesale from a domestic kitchen is prohibited.
Research sources
Sources used for this summary.
Last updated: 2026-05-07. Use these sources as a starting point for current verification.
- Gouvernement du Quebec - Don et vente d'aliments frais ou cuisines a la maison
- Gouvernement du Quebec - Permis alimentaires
- Gouvernement du Quebec - Vente de produits agricoles
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Food business activities that require a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Industry Labelling Tool
- Health Canada - Food allergen labelling
Important legal disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Cottage food rules change frequently and vary by local jurisdiction. Always verify current regulations with your province and local health departments before starting your business.
Next step
Turn Quebec rules into a clear ordering experience.
Use Cottage CMS to publish products, pickup windows, forms, disclosures, and order workflows after you verify the current local requirements.