“We will build a laboratory next year to make sure all Indonesian seafood products, both for export and domestic markets, are safe from radioactivity,” Trenggono said here on Tuesday.
He also urged Fish Processing Units (UPI) to use testing equipment that complies with standards recognized by United States authorities to strengthen trust in Indonesian seafood exports.
“We have communicated with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding which equipment is recognized as compliant, and we will adopt it. All UPIs are required to have and use this equipment,” he said.
Indonesia and the United States have agreed that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will serve as the certifying entity (CE) authorized to issue certificates confirming that Indonesian shrimp and seafood exports to the US are free from Cs-137 contamination.
Exporters are now required to obtain a radioactive-free certificate as part of compliance with the FDA’s import alert policy. The certification and testing scheme is designed to guarantee that Indonesian shrimp products are uncontaminated.
The certificate follows existing fishery product quality certification mechanisms, with the addition of a statement verifying the product’s freedom from radioactive substances.
Certification will be carried out by the ministry's regional technical units (UPT), based on laboratory test results from designated facilities.
Testing will also be conducted at laboratories under the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), with costs borne by exporters.
Earlier, the FDA received a report from Customs and Border Protection on a container of frozen shrimp from Indonesia that tested positive for radioactive Cesium-137.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian government established the Cs-137 Radiation Hazard Management Task Force to handle the crisis, focusing on containment, decontamination, and public safety.
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Translator: Aji, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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