New seafood labelling laws will come into effect from 1 July this year, requiring hospitality venues serving seafood to inform customers of the food’s origin.
In late 2023, Consumer and Business Affairs Ministers from around Australia voted unanimously to proceed with these new rules, following a twenty-year campaign by the local seafood industry.
The seafood labelling laws are part of an initiative by the Australian government that introduces the AIM model.
The AIM model is designed to clearly indicate whether seafood is Australian, imported, or a mix of both, and is intended to help patrons make informed choices.
AIM stands for Australian (where seafood is locally sourced), Imported, or Mixed (where a dish contains both local and imported seafood).
If a business serves seafood, the labelling laws, part of Australian Consumer Law, must be complied with by 1 July 2026.
Labelling must be clear to the customer, which includes appearing on menus printed, online and on boards, and on a clear sign on premises.
These can be via a single letter AIM label or detailed AIM labels.
If a venue only uses imported or only uses local seafood, a single statement can be made to that effect.
The labelling does not require a specific country of origin, making it somewhat easier for venues to manage.
The only push-back against the motion was the costs associated with compliance and updating menus, although the Australian Government Business website states that for temporary supply changes a “separate sign, removable stickers or another written method to tell customers about the temporary change in origin” is sufficient.
Digital menus will always require updates.
Compliance will be monitored by both Federal and state consumer affairs authorities, and penalties will apply for non-compliant venues.
Further information including examples of labelling and record keeping can be found on the business.gov.au website.
