Name standard launched: Will boost consumer confidence and market share

Federal Fisheries Minister, The Hon Eric Abetz, will officially launch the standard, which meets the seafood industry and consumer expectations for safe food, fair trading and truthful labelling.

The Standard is the result of consensus among a wide range of marine industry stakeholders and an extensive process of consultation with fish names experts, the seafood industry and the public. It has been developed in accordance with Standard’s Australia’s requirements for accredited standards development organisations and is maintained by SSA and the FNC in accordance with rigorous procedures that have been agreed to by government, industry and other stakeholders.

The fish industry believes that wide adoption of Standard Fish Names is vitally important. And, strategic investments by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation have enabled major progress on standardising the fish names used in Australian.

The scheme prescribes Standard Fish Names for use in Australia and also specifies when Standard Fish Names are to be used. It aims to promote:

• Public and consumer confidence
• Efficiency in seafood marketing
• Effective species-based fisheries management
• Sustainability of fisheries resources
• Effective food safety management
• Industry viability and profitability.

It also addresses the Australian Government’s legislative objectives for developing food standards which include:protection of public health and safety; provision of adequate information relating to food to enable consumers to make informed choices; prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct (through improved product identification.

For more details visit Seafood Services Australia.