From 1 July this year, the new Australian Consumer Law for seafood labelling in hospitality settings comes into force. These changes aim to give customers clear information about the origin of seafood served in restaurants, cafes, pubs, clubs and other venues.

What you need to know

Hospitality businesses that serve seafood for immediate consumption including dine-in, takeaway and delivery, must label the origin of seafood dishes.

This requirement does not apply to schools, hospitals, prisons, or retail packaged products.

The labelling system follows the AIM model:

  • A – Australian
  • I – Imported
  • M – Mixed origin

Labels must be easy to see before customers order, whether on printed menus, online menus, menu boards or other signage.

How to comply

You can choose from:

  • AIM letters with a legend (for example, barramundi (A) or seafood paella (M)).
  • Text labels (for example, ‘Australian oysters kilpatrick’ or ‘Imported garlic king prawns’).
  • Single statements if all seafood is Australian or all seafood is imported.

Businesses may also include more detail, such as state or region, but the term ‘international’ does not meet the standard - use ‘imported’ instead.