Selling homemade food in Nunavut
Learn how to sell homemade food in Nunavut: kitchen requirements, permits, food safety training, official forms and permitted sales channels.
Research checked:
Home food rules in Nunavut
Low-risk homemade food, sold direct or at markets. Since May 2024, qualifying low-risk homemade food can be sold directly or at community markets and bake sales without a permit.
Sales channels for qualifying home foods
No sales to food businesses or facilities caring for vulnerable people.
- Markets and events
Allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Home pickup
Allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Delivery
Allowed under the qualifying home-food route
- Online orders
Confirm with the authority
- Retail and wholesale
Not allowed under the qualifying home-food route
Permits and kitchen approval
Medium- and high-risk food needs a permitted premises — and a dwelling can’t get one for public food production.
Your steps in this location
- No premises permit Exempt for qualifying operations
For qualifying low-risk food sold direct, delivered or picked up.
- Keep prep areas clean Required
Cleanable equipment. No pets or uninvolved people during production.
- Certification doesn’t apply Exempt for qualifying operations
Exempt dwellings fall outside the regulations’ training mandate.
- Ask about online ordering Confirm locally
Get advice from your Regional Environmental Health Officer.
Forms and official resources
Local requirements
Confirm before selling
Country food and hunting rules are separate from low-risk baking.
More business guides for Nunavut
Build your business on Dished
Four different things people mix up
A certificate does not let you open. Each of these is its own step, and you may need more than one.
- Food safety certificate
Proves you passed training. It does not approve your kitchen or business.
- Food premises permit
Authorizes a specific operation, where one is required.
- Notification or registration
Telling the health authority you are operating. A separate process.
- Business licence
Your city’s home-occupation or business approval. Also separate.
Federal rules to check in Canada
The details depend on your product and selling method. Check the applicable requirements and exemptions.
- Labels
Check common name, ingredients and allergens, net quantity, business identity, dates, storage and language. A Nutrition Facts exemption is not a blanket labelling exemption.
- Selling across borders
Shipping to another province or country? Check CFIA's tools first. Not every online home seller needs a federal licence.
- GST/HST
The general small-supplier test counts worldwide taxable supplies, including zero-rated sales and applicable associates, over one quarter or four consecutive quarters. It is not $30,000 of profit.
Your startup checklist
Completing this list does not establish government approval.
Write down your menu: ingredients, fillings, packaging, storage and shelf life.
Find your home-food exemption or approved-kitchen route.
List every way you will sell: markets, online, pickup, delivery, shops and shipping.
Check city zoning, home occupation and business licensing.
Contact your inspector and complete required notifications, applications and inspections.
Book accepted training where it is required.
Register your business name where needed and check your tax obligations.
Check insurance and landlord or condo permission.
Set up cleaning, storage, water, supplier, allergen and transport procedures.
Keep records of approvals, training, recipes and suppliers.