By law, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has a monopoly on all alcohol sales in the province. To sell your products here, you must have an Authorized Agent who will solicit orders from the LCBO.
To secure the services of an agent, fill out a Letter of Appointment form on your company's letterhead; the agent will then use it to get a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) to represent you in Ontario.
Once licensed by the AGCO, your agent will submit samples of your product to LCBO's Sales and Marketing Division. If they like your product, they will order it.
Yes, the LCBO tests products at random in a laboratory to ensure public safety. This testing takes place several times a year at the manufacturer's expense.
Yes, provided that you receive prior approval from the LCBO. Let your agent know if you wish to include any promotional materials with your product.
No, the LCBO will direct a percentage of revenue to the agent, in accordance with the amount that had earlier been agreed between the agent and the manufacturer. All the manufacturer needs to do is submit a Direction to Pay Agent form authorizing the LCBO to make these payments.
If defects are found, the LCBO can cancel its contract with a manufacturer with 15 days written notice.
The common name of your product, the alcohol by volume, the ingredient list, the production or best before date, and any potential allergen declaration must be bilingual in Ontario. Otherwise, one language is enough.
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