Incomplete Documents, Quarantine NTB Destroys 3 Tons of Animal and Fish Products

Quarantine NTB destroyed more than three tons of animal and fish products that were transported without quarantine documents (DOK NTB Quarantine Center)

Lembar - The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) through the West Nusa Tenggara Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Center (Karantina NTB) destroyed more than three tons of animal and fish products that were transported without quarantine documents.

This action is carried out to prevent the entry and spread of pests and animal and fish diseases to the NTB region.

Head of NTB Quarantine Ina Soelistyani said that the commodities were found when officers carried out cargo unloading supervision at the ASDP Lembar Port, West Lombok Regency on Tuesday, July 14.

The products transported by truck from Gianyar Regency, Bali, to Mataram City were known to not have health certificates or quarantine documents as required by Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine.

"Officers first examined the commodities and their quarantine documents. Because the requirements were not met, our carrier media was detained and the owner was given the opportunity to complete the required documents," said Ina at the NTB Board, Tuesday, July 21.

However, until the specified deadline, the owner could not complete the documents so that officers continued the quarantine action with destruction in accordance with applicable regulations.

Quarantine documents are not merely administrative requirements, but become proof that commodities have gone through quarantine measures in the region of origin so that they are safe to be transported.

"Without quarantine documents, the health status of commodities cannot be ascertained, so it has the potential to become a medium for spreading pests and animal and fish diseases to the destination area," he said.

The commodities destroyed consisted of six types of fishery products, namely shrimp windu, tuna jaw, mahi-mahi fish, clams, barramundi fish, and salmon meat with a total weight of 769 kilograms.

Meanwhile, the animal products that were destroyed include frozen pork, fresh beef, processed beef, processed chicken meat, and cheese with a total weight of 2,298.6 kilograms. In total, the commodities destroyed amounted to more than three tons.

According to Ina, as an area with high livestock and fishery commodity traffic, West Nusa Tenggara has a risk of entering and spreading diseases through commodities that do not meet quarantine requirements.

"Destruction is the last action if the quarantine requirements are not met. We appeal to all business actors and transportation service companies to ensure that each commodity that is transported has been equipped with quarantine documents before being dispatched," said Ina.

He added that compliance with quarantine provisions is an important part of protecting animal health, fisheries resources, food safety, and maintaining the smooth flow of commodity traffic between regions.

The destruction process was carried out in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and was witnessed by the Indonesian National Police and related agencies as a form of accountability for the implementation of quarantine measures.