Language watchdog insists French labelling requirements apply to all products, including musical instruments.

Xavier Twigg, owner of Twigg Musique Montréal, says instrument companies generally only create one product label in one language, English. (Steve Rukavina/CBC)

The president of a nationwide chain of musical instrument stores says a whole new twist on D-Day is coming to Quebec next June.

That’s when the province has promised to crack down on product labelling, ensuring everything has French wording emblazoned, inscribed or stickered on. The new law, known as Bill 96, requires any label or writing on musical instruments, products or packaging to have a French translation.

“When we get to D-Day, unless there’s some changes, it’s going to be very traumatic for our stores,” said Steve Long, president of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, which has 100 locations from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

“We won’t be able to operate in Quebec.”

Long & McQuade has 18 stores in the province.

Long is among those raising concerns about the new law’s Article 51. It says every inscription on a product, its container, its wrapping or on any document or object supplied with it — including the directions for use and the warranty certificates — must be drafted in French.

Most of these products are imported, and English is the industry-standard language.

Source: CBC News

Full article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/music-instruments-quebec-french-1.7339382