Country of Origin labelling rollout underway
Work on rolling out the new standards for identifying Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) for seafood served in hospitality settings has commenced in preparation for enforcement from 1 July 2026.
In WA, the CoOL program is being managed through the Consumer Protection department, alongside the Federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), which has developed a range of education materials for distribution by regulators in each jurisdiction.
The Commonwealth has allocated funding of $1.6 million over two years, with funds to be used supporting the regulators, as well as providing advice to businesses and consumers as required.
Consumer Protection has been actively engaged by contacting all WA Local Government Authorities with a request the information be shared with the frontline food businesses they license.
Consumer Protection is also working on its stakeholder communications program to inform restaurants and hospitality outlets on the new seafood labelling requirements.
To help businesses better understand the changes, the Federal Government has developed a range of information packages as well as an FAQ sheet, covering the most commonly asked questions.