Seafood platter with prawns, shrimp, crabs, Balmain bugs, oyster clams in a Sydney CBD restaurant, NSW, Australia.
From 1 July 2026, Australia has implemented mandatory nationwide Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) requirements by law for seafood served in hospitality settings.
From now on, restaurants, cafés, pubs, clubs, take-away outlets and other food service businesses serving seafood must clearly indicate whether it is Australian, imported or mixed (AIM).
According to Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), this "milestone" is the result of more than 15 years of advocacy by SIA, state seafood associations, seafood businesses and industry leaders.
Its implementation follows a 12-month transition period to allow businesses to adapt to the new requirements and was announced in March 2025 by Australia’s Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic.
"Today is an important day for Australia's seafood industry and for Australian consumers. We acknowledge and thank the Albanese Government for delivering on its commitment and working collaboratively with industry throughout the implementation process," said SIA Chief Executive Officer Dr John Ackerman.
Also, SIA collaborated with the Government and industry representatives to help businesses prepare for the new requirements, providing educational resources, webinars, communication tools and practical implementation support.
"This achievement belongs to the entire Australian seafood industry. We thank our members, state seafood bodies, seafood businesses and government partners who worked together to deliver this important reform," Ackerman emphasized.