Once Stuck, KKP Helps Export 20 Containers of Shrimp Worth IDR 64 Billion to the US

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has helped export shipments of 20 containers of frozen shrimp from Surabaya belonging to PT Bumi Menara Internusa (BMI) which had been held up at one of the US ports.

The volume of exports that were saved at that time was 263,000 tons with a total value of around Rp64 billion.

Head of the Marine and Fishery Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency (Badan Mutu KKP) Ishartini explained that Indonesian shrimp exports were accepted in Uncle Sam's country after the Fish Processing Unit (UPI) showed the Certificate of Quality and Safety of Fishery Products (SMKHP) and then confirmed by his party.

"I have received reports about the frozen shrimp container of PT. BMI which finally entered the American market after showing SMKHP," said Ishartini in a written statement, Friday, January 9.

The SMKHP is an official declaration that is needed by the destination country authorities to ensure that fishery products are produced through the production chain process in accordance with global standards of sanitation, hygiene and food safety.

Thus, meeting the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) of food in the export destination country and easily entering their markets.

Ishartini said, exporters of fishery products can now take care of SMKHP through the Siap Mutu application.

"We have 46 UPTs throughout Indonesia. In addition, Siap Mutu is also connected to the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW)," he said.

The Export and Import Manager of PT Bumi Menara Internusa (BMI) in Surabaya, Clorinda, admitted that 20 containers of frozen shrimp products from the company were indeed held at the Port of Chicago, USA.

Then, said Clorinda, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a notification email to his party through the Customs Broker and conveyed that there were incomplete documents.

"Then after we sent the SMKHP issued by the Surabaya Quality Agency I, finally that day all the containers were released by the FDA," he said.