Penalty Info

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Food and drug offencesVerified against official source

Verified against official source

This range was checked against the official legal text. Last verified: 2026-10-19.

Statutory range

Indictable

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 3 years
Fine
Fine $0–$5,000

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

s. 31(b).

Summary conviction

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 3 months (first offence) / 0–6 months (subsequent)
Fine
Fine $0–$500 (first offence) / $0–$1,000 (subsequent)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

s. 31(a).

Note on this entry

The s. 31 tiers below were read from the official text.

Source

Statute
Food and Drugs Act s. 31
Official source
laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Verification status
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors beyond tier, attempt, concurrence, plea, discretion, ancillary orders, administrative monetary penalties, ss. 31.1–31.4 therapeutic-product offences. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.