Country of origin labelling urged for restaurant seafood

The Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) says produce sold in restaurants should be labelled where it comes from.

The QSIA says more than 70 per cent of seafood comes from other countries such as Asia, northern Africa and the Pacific.

QSIA chairman Michael Gardner says countries are piggybacking off Australia's good reputation.

"Australian seafood has got a wonderful reputation and we all talk about our Aussie seafood," he said.

"I think just a lot of the imported seafood, while not decrying necessarily its quality in any way, is essentially riding on the back of Australian seafood.

"If you look at all our primary produced products in Australia and look at what percentage is imported and what percentage is local product consumed here in Australia, you'll be staggered.

"Virtually all other products, I think dairy is the lowest, 85 per cent [is] Australian produce, seafood is 30 per cent."

Seafood sold for home preparation and tinned produce show the country of origin.

Source: ABC News, 2 April 2013