Australian fish and chip shops set to introduce new country of origin labels
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In a world where transparency is becoming more appreciated, our beloved local fish and chip shops across the country are also evolving.
Australia's fish and chip shops are about to undergo a significant change, as the government has passed a new law that will require these establishments to clearly label the country of origin of their seafood to give consumers more information about the food they're eating.
This move is a significant shift from the current situation, where there's no national consistency in how seafood is labelled in restaurants and cafes.
The labelling model has been in place for most products in retail stores since 2018, but this is the first time it will be applied to seafood in hospitality venues.
The new labelling system will be seen on restaurant menus and takeaways, including local fish and chips shops, and will indicate where the fish or seafood was caught. The system will indicate 'A' for Australian, 'I' for imported and 'M' for mixed origin.
This change comes after the government announced last year that $1.6 million would be allocated to expand Australia’s country of origin labelling rules.
The decision to implement these new rules was made at a recent meeting between state and federal consumer affairs ministers, where ministers voted unanimously in favour of the change.
While the exact date of enforcement hasn’t been confirmed, it’s understood that businesses will have a transition period to help them adjust.
More details about the implementation of these new rules are also set to be announced next year.
Seafood Industry Australia CEO Veronica Papacosta said the industry was 'absolutely elated' by the decision.
'It has been 15 years of campaigning,' she said.
'Consumers should have the right to make informed choices about the food they purchase and consume.'
'With 62 per cent of seafood consumed in Australia being imported, it is imperative that consumers dining out have access to clear and accurate information about the origin of the seafood they are served.'
This news comes after Costco Australia was given a hefty $33,000 fine after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that their lobsters were not as 'homegrown' as they claimed to be.
The mislabelled products cleverly sported the Australian-made kangaroo logo and a full bar chart indicating exclusivity.
'Many shoppers pay a premium to purchase Australian seafood rather than imported products, which makes the accuracy of the labelling a crucial part of enabling consumers to make an informed choice,' ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said in a statement.
It turns out these were actually imported from Canada.
You can read more about this news here.
What are your thoughts on this new rule, members? Will it influence your seafood choices? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Australia's fish and chip shops are about to undergo a significant change, as the government has passed a new law that will require these establishments to clearly label the country of origin of their seafood to give consumers more information about the food they're eating.
This move is a significant shift from the current situation, where there's no national consistency in how seafood is labelled in restaurants and cafes.
The labelling model has been in place for most products in retail stores since 2018, but this is the first time it will be applied to seafood in hospitality venues.
Restaurants will be required to label the country of origin of their seafood. Image source: mrsiraphol on Freepik.
The new labelling system will be seen on restaurant menus and takeaways, including local fish and chips shops, and will indicate where the fish or seafood was caught. The system will indicate 'A' for Australian, 'I' for imported and 'M' for mixed origin.
This change comes after the government announced last year that $1.6 million would be allocated to expand Australia’s country of origin labelling rules.
The decision to implement these new rules was made at a recent meeting between state and federal consumer affairs ministers, where ministers voted unanimously in favour of the change.
While the exact date of enforcement hasn’t been confirmed, it’s understood that businesses will have a transition period to help them adjust.
More details about the implementation of these new rules are also set to be announced next year.
Seafood Industry Australia CEO Veronica Papacosta said the industry was 'absolutely elated' by the decision.
'It has been 15 years of campaigning,' she said.
'Consumers should have the right to make informed choices about the food they purchase and consume.'
'With 62 per cent of seafood consumed in Australia being imported, it is imperative that consumers dining out have access to clear and accurate information about the origin of the seafood they are served.'
This news comes after Costco Australia was given a hefty $33,000 fine after the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that their lobsters were not as 'homegrown' as they claimed to be.
The mislabelled products cleverly sported the Australian-made kangaroo logo and a full bar chart indicating exclusivity.
'Many shoppers pay a premium to purchase Australian seafood rather than imported products, which makes the accuracy of the labelling a crucial part of enabling consumers to make an informed choice,' ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said in a statement.
It turns out these were actually imported from Canada.
You can read more about this news here.
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