New seafood labelling rules coming for hospitality businesses

11 March 2026

From 1 July 2026, hospitality businesses across Australia must clearly tell customers where the seafood they serve comes from.

The new Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) gives diners clearer information so they can make informed choices about the seafood they order when dining in or buying.

Restaurants, cafés, markets, pubs, clubs, takeaway outlets and other hospitality businesses that serve seafood for immediate consumption must display whether their seafood is Australian, imported, or a mix of both.

How seafood must be labelled

Businesses must display the origin of seafood in a way that customers can easily see before they order.

This information can appear on:

  • printed menus
  • online menus
  • menu boards
  • specials board
  • clear signage in the business.

The rules allow 3 ways to show the origin of seafood:

Single-letter AIM labels

  • A - Australian
  • I - imported
  • M - mixed from Australian and imported

For example:

  • grilled barramundi (A)
  • steamed mussels (I)
  • pad thai with prawns and squid (M)

Menus using this system must include a legend explaining what the letters mean.

Written labels

Businesses may write the full word instead of using letters, such as:

  • Australian
  • Imported
  • Mixed

A single statement for the entire business

Some businesses may choose to display a statement that applies to all seafood they serve.

Does this statement have to be on the menu, or could it be a sign on the counter, particularly in take-away shops?

What the new rules mean for businesses

The new CoOL standard is part of the Australian Consumer Law and is designed to increase transparency and consistency across the hospitality industry.

Hospitality businesses should review their menus and ordering systems before the 1 July 2026 start date to ensure they are ready to comply.

Support for NT businesses

NT Consumer Affairs officers will also be visiting hospitality venues to discuss the changes and answer questions.

Businesses are encouraged to read the fact sheet and other resources on food labelling.