Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs has asked the public not to worry or hesitate about consuming fishery products, especially shrimp.

"The government urges the public not to worry and not to hesitate to consume fishery products, especially shrimp," said Bara Krishna Hasibuan, Expert Staff to the Minister for Digital Transformation and Inter-Agency Relations at the ministry, in a media briefing here on Wednesday.

The government ensures swift, measured, and transparent handling of the case of the United States' rejection of Indonesian shrimp products that were detected to contain radioactive Cesium-137 (Cs-137).

The government has established a Task Force for Handling the Vulnerability of Cs-137 Radionuclide Radiation Hazards and Health in Communities at Risk of Being Affected, led by Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan and involving relevant ministers.

The Task Force is tasked with synergizing prevention, control, and protection for the community and the environment from radioactive hazards, and maintaining the competitiveness of Indonesian export products in foreign markets.

Since September 2, 2025, there have been 18 containers of shrimp products belonging to PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (PT BMS) that were returned on their export journey (Return on Board/RoB) to the United States and have arrived back in Indonesia.

Comprehensive handling and inspection will be immediately carried out by a joint team from Customs and Excise, Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin), Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), and port-related agencies, Hasibuan said.

He said the Government announced that 18 RoB containers had been tested for quality and Cs-137 radioactive levels.

The results of the examination by BRIN showed that the shrimp product did not detect radioactive Cs-137, so Barantin issued a release certificate, which was submitted to PT BMS.

Therefore, the shrimp product is declared suitable and safe for consumption.

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