Zulhas Ensures That The Case Of Frozen Shrimp Polluted By Cs-137 Does Not Disrupt The National Supply Chain

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulhas (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan ensured that cases of frozen shrimp exposed to cesium-137 (Cs-137) radiation would not interfere with the national supply chain or exports of fishery products.

Zulhas, as Zulkifli Hasan is familiarly called, also emphasized that the case of exposure to Cs-137 radiation in frozen shrimp products was only found in the Cikande modern industrial area, Banten.

"Investigation of the Task Force ensures that the Cs-137 contamination only occurs in Cikande. Not in the national supply chain or exports," he said at a press conference at the Ministry of Food's Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, September 30.

To speed up the handling, Zulhas said the Cikande Industrial Estate was designated as the status of the Special Radionuclide Radiation Cs-137 incident. This status was given after an investigation by the Cs-137 handling task force which showed contamination.

"Today we set the Cikande, which is specifically in Cikande, as a special status for radionuclide radiation Cs-137," he said.

Zulhas said that the status was determined so that it could accelerate the handling quickly or decontaminated.

"Steps have been taken. So, the status of the special incident was in Cikande. The Cikande modern industrial area, there," he said.

Zulhas said, based on the results of the investigation, the contamination only came from PT Meter Metal Technology (PMT). He also said he had conducted an examination of the company.

In addition, Zulhas said the task force had also conducted an examination of 1,562 workers to ensure radiation contamination so as not to spread to other areas.

Furthermore, Zulhas emphasized that the government will continue to provide open information to the public and the international community, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"The government ensures that the mechanism for estimating the quality of fishery products remains and has been running according to national and international standards," he said.