G/TBT/N/AUS/153  
11 Janvier 2023  
(23-0307) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Department of Industry, Science and Resources  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Seafood in 
hospitality settings, including saltwater and freshwater fish, shellfish and roe.  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s)  of the notified document:  Country of origin 
labelling for seafood in hospitality settings - discussion paper; (11 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  The Australian Government has released a discussion paper 
seeking feedback on how to impleme nt mandatory Country of Origin Labelling for seafood 
(seafood CoOL) in hospitality settings. The discussion paper outlines:  
· objectives to guide the development of seafood CoOL  
· a proposed model for seafood CoOL  
· information on existing origin labelling  schemes for hospitality.  
The proposed model aims to be a simple, practical  and low -cost approach for providing 
consumers with origin information to help them make decisions. Under the proposed 
model, hospitality businesses will need to indicate if their seafood is Australian, imported 
or mixed origin. It is proposed to apply to both saltwater and freshwater fish, shellfish and 
roe. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Australia is seeking to introduce mandatory country of origin labelling for 
seafood in hospitality settings (seafo od CoOL) is because country of origin is often a major 
factor for Australian consumers when they are thinking about what seafood to buy. In 
Australia, country of origin labelling is required for most foods, including seafood, that are 
sold in retail settin gs, such as supermarkets. However there has not been significant 
voluntary country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality settings and origin 
information available to consumers is limited.  G/TBT/N/AUS/153  
 
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  The objectives of mandatory seafood CoOL are to:  
· improve the origin information available to consumers to make it easier for them to buy 
seafood in line with their preferences  
· minimise costs and impacts on affected businesses  
· be practical to enforce  
· align with trade principles; Consumer information, labell ing; Consumer information, 
labelling  
8. Relevant documents:   
Discussion paper: https://consult.industry.gov.au/cool -for-seafood -in-hospitality  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
WTO TBT Enquiry Point  
Office of Trade Negotiations  
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
Canberra A.C.T  
Tel: + (61 2) 6261 1111  
Fax: + (61 2) 6261 3111  
Email: tbt.enquiry@dfat.gov.au  
Discussion paper: https://consult.industry.gov.au/cool -for-seafood -in-hospitality