“On December 9, the first containers arrived with certificates confirming they were free of Cesium-137. Two containers have entered, passed inspections, and the results have now been released,” said Head of the Marine and Fisheries Products Quality Control and Supervision Agency, Ishartini, during a press conference here on Thursday.
She noted that an additional 640 containers of Indonesian shrimp, also certified Cs-137-free, were shipped to the United States between October 31 and December 10.
“We hope the remaining 640 containers will proceed without further inspections, as the United States now trusts that Indonesia can complete the certification process domestically,” she said.
The ministry has been designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the Certifying Entity (CE), meaning all Indonesian shrimp exports to the United States must be accompanied by a certificate confirming they are free of Cesium-137, issued by the Marine and Fisheries Products Quality Control and Supervision Agency.
“Thankfully, since October 31 we have been able to resume shrimp exports to the United States,” Ishartini added.
The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has begun sending shipments of certified shrimp products to the United States, starting with the first certified release from Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on October 31.
Certification procedures and verification protocols have been established by the Marine and Fisheries Products Quality Control and Supervision Agency in accordance with FDA requirements and Import Alert 99-52.
The Cs-137 certification system was developed in coordination with the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (BAPETEN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
The process includes scanning and testing at key points in the shrimp production chain, particularly in Java and Lampung, to ensure that all exports are free from radioactive contamination.
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Translator: Aji Cakti
Editor: Primayanti
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