Expert Staff for Digital Transformation and Inter-Agency Relations at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Bara Krishna Hasibuan confirmed on Monday that both the Indonesian and US governments have agreed on the certification mechanism.
"Both countries have agreed that the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) will act as the certifying entity (CE) that issues CS-137 contamination-free certification for shrimp exports to the United States," Hasibuan stated.
The new certification and reporting mandates for both shrimp and spices are currently being finalized.
The core goal is to establish a rigorous system that guarantees exported products are free from Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination.
Head of the Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency of the KKP Ishartini announced that the new certification will be effective for shrimp and spice products sourced from Java and Lampung starting October 31.
The certificate will utilize the existing quality certification mechanism for fishery products but will include an additional statement confirming the product is radioactive-free.
The certification process will be conducted by the KKP's regional technical implementation units (UPT).
Exporters are required to submit test results from designated laboratories.
Additional tests will be conducted at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) laboratory, with costs borne by the exporter.
This new rule applies to companies placed on the "yellow list"—fish processing units in Java and Lampung that possess US export permits—provided they meet the new requirements.
Meanwhile, companies on the "red list," such as PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS) whose products were previously detected with radioactive material in the US, face a more stringent process involving verification and certification by an independent body accredited by the FDA.
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Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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