Pre-border measures refer to steps taken by a country domestically to ensure the safety of its commodities before export.
In a statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday, Bambang, Deputy for Crop Quarantine at Barantin, noted that the agreement was formalized with the signing of a protocol to update an existing implementing arrangement concerning the entry of raw onions into Indonesia.
"The new agreement on the implementing arrangement, which covers phytosanitary requirements for the export of onions from New Zealand to Indonesia, is a testament to the shared commitment of Barantin and MPI to facilitating onion trade between our two countries," he remarked.
Bambang stated that the updated agreement was signed on Monday (April 14) following bilateral negotiations on technical matters.
He explained that strengthening pre-border quarantine measures is crucial to protecting Indonesia from crops that may be infested with harmful organisms.
Regarding New Zealand’s role, he said its government is expected to ensure that phytosanitary certificates are granted only to onions of the highest quality, free from any contaminants.
"This is essential to prevent a recurrence of the incident where New Zealand onions were denied entry due to quarantine issues," he added.
The official emphasized that his team would conduct onsite audits in New Zealand or online verifications if issues arise regarding implementation and compliance with the agreement.
Meanwhile, MPI’s Director of Import and Export Biosecurity Standards, Lisa Winthrop, expressed hope that signing the updated agreement would soon lead to the resumption of bilateral onion trade this year.
She also highlighted that Indonesia is a key export market for New Zealand’s onions.
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Translator: Muhammad H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Primayanti
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