Country of origin labelling (CoOL) helps consumers make informed buying decisions.
In November 2023, Australia’s federal, state and territory consumer ministers agreed to introduce mandatory country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality venues. Thisfollowed broad consultation with the public and industry.
The information standard they proposed to introduce under the Australian Consumer Law will use the Australian-Imported-Mixed (AIM) model. Once in place, this means venues such as restaurants, takeaways, pubs and clubs will – at a minimum – use a letter to indicate the seafood’s origin:
- A (Australian)
- I (imported)
- M (of mixed origin containing both Australian and imported seafood).
We are now seeking feedback on an exposure draft information standard and draft explanatory statement proposed for introducing these changes. We want to ensure these changes are clear, easy to understand and useful.
This is an opportunity for all interested parties, including hospitality businesses, seafood industry representatives and consumers, to provide insights on the proposed changes.
Your feedback will help ensure the changes are practical, effective and beneficial for both businesses and consumers.