Lallemand seminar: “Freedom of expression and the right to ethical consumption at the grocery store : Lessons from Kattenburg v Canada”

The Centre for Intellectual Property Policy (CIPP) is happy to announce its first Lallemand seminar of 2020, where Professor Sarah Berger Richardson will be giving a talk on the recent Federal Court decision in Kattenburg v Canada concerning labeling of wine from the West Bank settlements. The seminar will be taking place on Tuesday January 28 at New Chancellor Day Hall, room 200, between 15:30 – 17:30. 

Professor Richardson obtained her DCL (2019) and BCL/LLB (2011) from McGill University, and holds a master’s from Tel Aviv University (2014). Her research focuses on regulation and politics surrounding the food and agriculture industries, and she will be available to chat after the event on the 2nd floor of NCDH. You can learn more about her and her research starting from her UOttawa faculty profile: https://droitcivil.uottawa.ca/en/people/berger-richardson-sarah

Voici le titre et l’abstrait de la présentation:

“Freedom of expression and the right to ethical consumption at the grocery store : Lessons from Kattenburg v Canada”

In the 2019 decision Kattenburg v Canada, 2019 FC 1003, the Federal Court ruled that wines produced by Israeli settlers in the West Bank may not be labelled “Product of Israel”. Labeling wines from the West Bank as “Products of Israel” misleads consumers about the origins of the product and is therefore unreasonable. The decision by the Federal Court is being appealed by the federal government, and it remains to be seen how the Federal Court of Appeal will rule. One of the most interesting elements of Kattenburg case is also one of the least discussed. In her reasons, Justice Mactavish noted that the labelling issue of West Bank wines engages subsection 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects the fundamental right of freedom of expression. Specifically, consumers have a right to express their political views through their purchasing choices. Regulatory decisions that inhibit the ability of consumers to express themselves limit their Charter-protected right to freedom of expression. Historically, Canadian courts have been reluctant to recognize Charter rights to particular foods beyond protections for religious dietary requirements. Recognizing a right to food based on freedom of expression thus opens the door for new avenues in food law litigation. This presentation will explore some of these possibilities. 

Refreshments (Coffee/Tea + Pastries) will be provided (!!!), and all are welcome. Please come and enjoy the event, as well as contribute to discussion!

This content has been updated on January 24, 2020 at 9:13.