20 March 2025
A Statement from Seafood Industry Australia
Seafood Industry Australia welcomes progress on Country-of-Origin-Labelling
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) welcomes today’s announcement from the Albanese Government on the continued progress on mandatory Country-of-Origin Labelling (CoOL) for seafood in food service, with implementation set to begin on 1 July 2025.
“This announcement marks a significant milestone in ensuring Australian consumers have the information they need to make informed choices when dining out,” said SIA CEO Veronica Papacosta. “CoOL is a win for both consumers and industry, empowering people to choose Australian seafood when they want to.”
“Despite Australia having the world’s third-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a staggering 64% of the seafood we consume is imported. This highlights the importance of clear labelling so consumers can make informed choices,” said Veronica Papacosta.
Under the new regulations, restaurants, cafes, takeaways, pubs, and clubs will be required to indicate the origin of their seafood using the Australian-Imported-Mixed (AIM) model:
- A (Australian)
- I (Imported or international)
- M (Mixed origin containing both Australian and imported seafood)
SIA acknowledges the extensive consultation undertaken by the government and industry to develop a model that improves consumer transparency while minimising business impact.
“This has been a long time coming, and while today’s announcement is a positive step forward, we know there is still work to do,” Papacosta said. “Ensuring a smooth transition for food service businesses and driving consumer awareness will be critical to the success of this new legislation.”
“A strong public awareness campaign will be essential—not only to support the hospitality sector but also to encourage Australians to ask for Australian seafood,” she added.
“We thank the government for its commitment to delivering this long-awaited initiative and look forward to working together to ensure its success.”
Media contact
Sarah Bakic
Seafood Industry Australia
Communications Manager