The clock is ticking. On 1 July 2026, the new mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) laws for seafood in hospitality take effect across Australia. If your restaurant, café, pub, club, or food truck serves seafood, you have less than three weeks to ensure your menus are fully compliant with the AIM model.
This isn’t just a minor administrative shift—it is a legal requirement under the Australian Consumer Law, and non-compliance carries heavy penalties.
Your 3-Step Final Countdown Checklist
To make sure your venue avoids last-minute stress and stays completely transparent with diners, here is what you need to finalize before July 1st:
- Audit and Identify: Double-check every single seafood item on your menu. This includes permanent entrees, daily specials, set menus, and rotating market catch. Every single one needs a designated origin indicator before a customer orders.
- Update Every Touchpoint: The letters A (Australian), I (Imported), or M (Mixed origin) must be clearly visible wherever customers make their selection. Don’t forget to update:
- Printed physical menus and clipboard specials
- Digital menu boards and overhead signage
- QR code menus and your venue’s website
- Third-party delivery apps (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Menulog)
- Train Your Front-of-House (FOH): Your waitstaff are on the front lines. Ensure they can confidently explain the AIM symbols to diners, know where to find the day’s provenance records, and know what to say if a weather event forces a temporary seafood substitution.
Lock In Your “A” Rating with Infinity Blue
When the compliance countdown gets tight, simplicity wins. Sourcing from Infinity Blue means one less headache for your kitchen and compliance teams.
Because we supply 100% Australian, springwater and salt-water barramundi year-round, any dish featuring our fish qualifies for an immediate, undisputed “A” status. There are no mixed origins to track, no guesswork for your chefs, and complete peace of mind for your venue.
Compliance Tip: Under the new standard, hospitality businesses must retain records proving the origin of their seafood (such as invoices or receipts) for at least three months. Choosing our barramundi ensures your paper trail is completely flawless.