Joint Media Release with Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins.
Aussie seafood lovers will soon be able to select their preferred catch in restaurants and cafes, with country-of-origin labelling (CoOL) to be added to menus.
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic announced the new labelling is on track to come into effect from 1 July 2025, with a final four-week consultation and 12-month transition period to help businesses adjust.
We know Australians love their seafood and the Albanese government is giving people the clear choice to buy Australian when they want to.
Our seafood industry directly employs over 10,000 Australians, generating around $3 billion of gross value to the economy.
Australian consumers value locally-sourced seafood for its high quality and sustainable practises, but feel menus don't currently offer enough information to make an informed choice.
Once in place, venues such as restaurants, takeaways, pubs and clubs will be required use the Australian-Imported-Mixed (AIM) model to indicate the seafood's origin from three options:
- A (Australian)
- I (imported)
- M (of mixed origin containing both Australian and imported seafood)
Commonwealth, state and territory consumer affairs ministers agreed to the new CoOL approach following extensive consultation with the public and industry.
Consultation found the proposed AIM labelling model was a practical and low-cost approach that strikes the right balance between improving consumer information while minimising business costs and impacts.
You can find out more here and provide feedback on an exposure draft information standard.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:
"Australia is home to a world class seafood industry. Aussies are proud of our industry and consumers overwhelmingly want to buy high-quality, fresh local produce.
"The Albanese Labor Government continues to back our local seafood industry and Australian consumers, who deserve and want to know where their seafood is coming from.
"We're delivering on a key commitment, which I was pleased to make at the last election, and will continue to support the efforts our local seafood industry has made to identify their products.
"The fisheries industry provides significant value both as a job creator and economic driver in regional Australia and our Government is proud to back Australian seafood, which is some of the best in the world."
Quotes attributable to the Hon. Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science:
"Whether it's a seafood basket with the kids or prawns on the barbie, Aussies should have the right to make informed choices about buying Australian.
"Australia's oceans are home to some of the best prawns, oysters and fish in the world, but more than 60% of seafood bought by Australians is imported.
"By giving Australians an informed choice about where their seafood comes from, we're supporting the Australian seafood industry, securing jobs and boosting our economy.
"This is a simple and practical approach that strikes the right balance between informing consumers while minimising costs and red tape for businesses."
