Seafood country of origin labelling laws now in place

21 August 2026

New seafood country of origin labelling laws are now in effect, giving consumers clearer information about where the seafood they order comes from.

Since 1 July 2026, hospitality businesses across Australia must clearly tell customers whether the seafood they serve is Australian, imported or a mix of both.

The new country of origin labelling requirements apply to restaurants, cafés, pubs, clubs, takeaway outlets, markets and other hospitality businesses that sell seafood for immediate consumption.

The requirements are part of the Australian Consumer Law and are designed to help consumers make more informed choices when ordering seafood.

How seafood must be labelled

Businesses must provide seafood country of origin information in a way that customers can easily see before they order.

Depending on how the business operates, the information may be displayed on:

  • printed menus
  • online menus
  • menu boards
  • specials boards
  • signs displayed where customers order.

Businesses have several options for providing the required information.

Single-letter AIM labels

  • A - Australian
  • I - imported
  • M - mixed origin (containing Australian and imported seafood)

For example:

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

If a business uses the AIM system, it must also display a legend explaining what the letters mean.

Written labels

Businesses can use words rather than the AIM letters, for example:

  • Australian
  • Imported
  • Mixed

A statement covering all seafood

Where appropriate, businesses can use a statement that applies to all seafood sold by the business rather than individually labelling every seafood item.

The statement must be clearly displayed so customers can see the country of origin information before ordering. Depending on the business, this could include appropriate signage at or near the point where customers place their orders.

What businesses need to do now

As the new requirements have been in effect since 1 July 2026, NT hospitality businesses that sell seafood should ensure their menus, menu boards, online ordering systems and other relevant customer information comply with the new labelling requirements.

Businesses should also make sure they have accurate information about the origin of the seafood they purchase and that this information is correctly communicated to customers.

Support for NT businesses

Businesses wanting to find out more about seafood country of origin labelling can go to the Australian Government website.

If you have any questions, give our Fair Trading Officers a call on 1800 019 319 or 08 8999 1999.