New Country-of-Origin Labelling for Seafood Coming in July 2025 — What It Means for You

New Country-of-Origin Labelling for Seafood Coming in July 2025 — What It Means for You

The Australian Government has officially announced that mandatory Country-of-Origin Labelling (CoOL) for seafood served in food service venues—like restaurants, cafes, takeaways, and pubs—will be introduced starting 1 July 2025. This move has been warmly welcomed by Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) and marks a major win for both consumers and the Australian seafood industry.

At Fins Choice, we’re proud to support this initiative and are already working on aligning our operations with the new regulations.

What is CoOL?

The new Australian-Imported-Mixed (AIM) labelling model will clearly indicate where your seafood comes from:

  • A – Australian: The seafood is sourced from Australian waters.

  • I – Imported: The seafood is sourced from international suppliers.

  • M – Mixed: A combination of Australian and imported seafood.

This simple but effective system aims to give consumers more clarity and confidence when ordering seafood outside the home.

Why It Matters

Despite having the third-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world, 64% of the seafood consumed in Australia is imported. This new labelling system empowers diners to make informed choices and actively support local, sustainable Australian seafood producers.

SIA CEO Veronica Papacosta said it best:

“CoOL is a win for both consumers and industry, empowering people to choose Australian seafood when they want to.”

Building Awareness and Support

The success of this initiative will rely on consumer education and business readiness. A strong public awareness campaign will help Australians understand the labels and encourage them to ask for Australian seafood when dining out.

Fins Choice Is On Board

At Fins Choice, we’ve always prioritised transparency, quality, and local sourcing. As part of our commitment to the community and industry best practices, we’re working now to ensure we’re fully compliant and ready ahead of the 2025 deadline.

Whether it’s fresh fish, cooked platters, or takeaway packs, our goal is to make it easy for customers to know where their seafood comes from—and feel good about choosing it.

Stay tuned for more updates as we move toward a more informed, sustainable seafood future together.

 

source: https://www.msc.org/en-au/about-the-msc/is-seafood-with-the-msc-label-really-sustainable
https://seafoodindustryaustralia.com.au/seafood-industry-australia-welcomes-progress-on-country-of-origin-labelling/

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