“We are reviewing our regulations and tightening them, especially for goods containing waste, particularly scrap metal,” Hasan said at a press briefing.
A government probe found 14 containers from the Philippines had entered Indonesia. Nine tested positive for Cs-137 exposure at Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port.
Hasan confirmed the contaminated containers will be returned. “Indonesia is actually a victim in this case. These containers will be re-exported to the Philippines immediately,” he said.
Authorities also traced suspected contamination to the PT PMTI facility in the Cikande industrial zone, Banten. The site has been sealed and is scheduled for decontamination.
The Health Ministry has begun medical checks on communities possibly exposed to the isotope.
Related news: Indonesian govt seals radioactive Cesium-137 site in Serang
“PT PMTI has been localized, and decontamination will begin soon. For nearly a week, the Health Ministry has been examining residents for potential exposure,” Hasan said.
The case surfaced after US customs detected Cs-137 in containers from Indonesia.
The US Food and Drug Administration said US Customs and Border Protection flagged the isotope in shipments arriving at the ports of Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami. Containers testing positive were denied entry.
The FDA said no radioactive shrimp products have been confirmed in US markets, but contamination may have occurred during packaging or storage.
Related news: Radioactive shrimp issue will not hinder export to US: Minister
Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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