Minister Of KKP Trenggono Ensures Safety Of Exports Of Shrimp Products From Radiation Contamination

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono ensured the safety of exports of Indonesian marine products including shrimp from radiation contamination of Radionuclide Cesium-137 (Cs-137) to the United States (US).

Trenggono said that currently his party is strengthening coordination and negotiations with the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) regarding the continuation of shrimp exports which he calls safe and under control.

"We are intensely talking to the US FDA. We are talking about it and we are currently negotiating, and I don't think it's a problem. The point is we have to make sure that the shrimp sent there is really under control, does not contain radioactiveity and so on," Trenggono said, quoted by Antara, Friday, October 10.

The Ministry of KP and US FDA also agreed to draw up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding the safety certification of shrimp products.

The US FDA previously also emphasized that the US market remains open to Indonesian shrimp products that meet food safety provisions.

In addition, the Minister of KP ensured that this would not affect the negotiations on trade rates with Uncle Sam's country in the future.

"No, it has nothing to do with this. This, right, is a matter of contamination," he said.

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

Head of the Public Communication and Diplomacy Division of the Bara Krishna Hasibuan Task Force on Wednesday (8/10), 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," said Bara.

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.