Seafood labeling laws that Australia enacted last year took effect in hospitality settings across the country on 1 July.
The rules require foodservice establishments to clearly label the seafood they serve as either Australian, imported, or of mixed origin.
They can adhere to these guidelines by placing a letter next to menu items denoting their origin. Under the AIM model, products are marked with either an A, an I, or an M, the latter category of which indicates that a product contains both Australian and imported seafood.
Restaurants can also use more detailed phrases such as “Australian seafood” or “contains imported seafood.” Additionally, they can offer a sweeping statement for the entire establishment, such as “We only serve Australian seafood.”
Whichever avenue of compliance a business chooses must be updated as sourcing changes.
To ensure effective enforcement, the Australian government has directed commonwealth, state, and territory regulators to address non-compliance.
Brisbane, Australia-based law firm Mullins Lawyers has advised that “potential consequences for non-compliance may include Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigations, infringement notices, enforceable undertakings, corrective advertising orders, and significant financial penalties.”
Under Australian Consumer Law, those infringement financial penalties may total AUD 3,960 (USD 2,733, EUR 2,400) for individuals, AUD 19,800 (USD 13,662, EUR 12,003 for corporations, and AUD 198,000 (USD 136,624, EUR 120,020) for listed corporations.
More serious breaches can carry fines of AUD 2.5 million (USD 1.72 million, EUR 1.51 million) for individuals and AUD 100 million (USD 69 million, EUR 60.6 million) for corporations.
According to Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), enforcement of the law comes after a yearlong transition period and more than 15 years of industry pressure to affect such a change.
“Today is an important day for Australia’s seafood industry and for Australian consumers. We acknowledge and thank the Albanese government for delivering its commitment and working collaboratively with industry throughout the implementation process,” SIA CEO John Ackerman said in a release. “Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling [CoOL] in foodservice delivers greater transparency, allowing people to make informed decisions about the seafood they choose when dining out. This reform … is the result of persistent advocacy, strong collaboration, and a shared commitment to ensuring consumers have access to clear and consistent information.”
Government officials have similarly lauded the initiative as long overdue.
“For too long, Australians have floundered with not enough information about the origin of seafood in hospitality venues, which is why we’re reeling this in.We’re backing more information for Australian consumers, who can be sold hook, line, and sinker on local Australian seafood,” Australia Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry Julie Collins said. “The changes kicking off today deliver on a key commitment I was pleased to make in Opposition and will continue to support the efforts of our local seafood industry.”
Conservation organizations such as the Australia Marine Conservation Society have praised the move toward greater seafood transparency as a step in the right direction but have also called for more information to be included in labeling practices such as common species names, details on whether a seafood product was wild-caught or farmed, the gear type used, and more.
“Aussies deserve to be able to choose sustainable, ethically sourced, delicious seafood – and know that they’re getting what they pay for,” the organization said.
