Effective 1 July 2026

Starting 1 July 2026, all ready-to-eat seafood sold in your store — including sushi, grab-and-go meals, catering platters, hot food, or deli-prepared items — must clearly indicate the seafood’s origin: Australian (A), imported (I), or mixed origin (M).

Raw or packaged seafood sold for customers to cook or prepare elsewhere is not affected and should continue to follow existing retail Country of Origin Labelling rules.

Who Needs to Comply

The new rules apply to any seafood sold for immediate consumption. Examples include:

• Sushi made in-store or supplied fresh

• Grab-and-go seafood meals, salads, or rolls

• Cooked seafood from cafés, hot food counters, or food service areas

• Catered seafood orders supplied within 24 hours of the customer placing an order

• Deli-ready cooked items, e.g., marinated octopus

Rule of thumb: If customers can eat it straight away, it must be labelled.

For a more detailed list of dishes requiring labelling, see Labelling seafood in your hospitality business on business.gov.au.

What the Rules Do Not Apply To

• Raw or fresh seafood sold to prepare or cook elsewhere (e.g., fresh salmon, raw prawns)

• Packaged seafood sold from retail shelves

• Shelf-stable seafood products (e.g., canned tuna)

These products should follow existing Country of Origin Labelling requirements.

How to Label Seafood

You must clearly display the seafood’s origin before customers order or eat.

• Use the letters A, I, or M with a legend, or the full words: Australian, imported, or mixed origin.

• If all your seafood is the same origin (all Australian or all imported), a single statement such as “All the seafood we serve is Australian” is sufficient.

Record Keeping

Keep proof of seafood origin — invoices, packaging photos, or supplier emails — for three months after the item is last offered for sale. If suppliers haven’t provided this information, request it in writing.

Handling Supply Changes

If your seafood source changes temporarily (e.g., switching from Australian to imported prawns), you don’t need to reprint menus. Instead:

• Display a clear temporary sign or sticker

• Update your online menu, if applicable

What You Should Do Now

If your seafood is already labelled correctly, no action is needed. Otherwise, implement these steps before 1 July 2026:

Identify all ready-to-eat seafood items, including sushi and catering
Confirm the country of origin with suppliers (in writing)
Choose your labelling method
Plan signage, menu, and digital updates
Train staff to explain labels to customers