Government Strengthens Handling Of Cs-137 Radiation Issues, Guarantees Safe Products

BATAM - The government through the Radionuclide Radiation Hazard Management Task Force (Satgas) Cesium-137 (Cs-137) strengthens coordination across ministries and institutions to ensure the safety of export products, public protection, and control of domestic sources of contamination.

Head of the Division of Diplomacy and Public Communication of the Bara Krishna Hasibuan Task Force said that the government is committed to resolving this issue quickly, transparently, and scientifically.

"The handling steps are carried out in a coordinated manner across ministries and institutions to ensure public safety and maintain the confidence of international trading partners in Indonesian products," Bara said in a written statement quoted in Batam, Riau Islands, Wednesday, October 8.

In a coordination meeting of the Task Force which took place in Jakarta, Wednesday, Bara revealed that two containers of shrimp products suspected of being contaminated with Cs-137 had arrived back from the United States.

One container is still in the process of being tested by the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (BAPETEN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), while one other container is being handled by the task force team at Tanjung Priok Port.

Of the total 29 containers Return-on-Board (ROB) that have been examined, all of them have been declared Cs-137 free of contamination and have been returned to the company.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) together with the Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) also agreed to draw up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the safety certification of shrimp products.

The US FDA appreciates the handling steps taken by the Indonesian Government and confirms that the United States market remains open to Indonesian shrimp products that meet food safety provisions.

The Ministry of Environment (KLH) also found indications of Cs-137 contamination in 22 production facilities in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate.

PT Bahari Makmur Sejahtera (BMS) has been successfully decontaminated and declared safe by BAPETEN, while 21 other facilities are in the process of being decontaminated. The Task Force has also installed a Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) to detect radiation in vehicles that enter and exit industrial areas.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry ensures that it will not provide recommendations for imports of crystal methamphetamine to prevent new sources of contamination.

In terms of public health, the Ministry of Health has examined 1,591 workers and residents from two affected locations. A total of nine people who were detected positive for Cs-137 have been referred to Fatmawati Hospital and sent home in a stable condition.

In addition, following up on the US FDA report regarding the alleged contamination of Indonesian clove products, the Government through BAPETEN has sent a team to conduct field checks.