Shrimp Exports To The US Had Stopped, KKP Accelerates Certification Of Indonesian Fishery Products

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Minister of KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono (Photo: Doc. VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said that the delivery of Indonesian shrimp to the United States (US) had been stopped due to exposure to Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive substances in frozen shrimp products owned by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS Food).

Trenggono explained that the cessation of shrimp exports occurred after the discovery of radioactive exposure in the Cikande Modern Industrial Estate, Serang Regency, Banten, which allegedly came from an imported slab belonging to a steel smelting plant containing Cs-137.

"Yes, yesterday stopped, it was. Until then in the future, now it is piled up. We have to make sure that everything that exists, because whatever the name is, right, our shrimp is quite good in America," Trenggono said when met after attending the Indonesian Economist 100 Sarasehan Event in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 28.

Therefore, Trenggono ensured that his party would accelerate the certification process for Indonesian fishery products. "So, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is appointed as an authority that can provide certification, but we will do it in all regions, of course to convince buyers in America we are free from radioactive material," he said.

In addition, the KKP will coordinate with Fish Management Units (UPI) in all regions to complete testing equipment that meets FDA standards.

"Another side of us will also build, next year we will build a laboratory to ensure that all products produced by Indonesia outside and inside are safe from being radioactive," said Trenggono.

Then, the KKP through the Quality Control and Supervision Agency of Marine and Fisheries Products (BPPMHKP) also continues to coordinate with the US so that Indonesia gets a faster allocation of equipment. Thus, testing can be carried out in full.

"Actually, if our equipment exists, it's complete. Because of this, right, it's only been a few days, yes. It's complete, it should be fast. Hopefully (November) it's over, just pray," he concluded.

Previously, in August 2025, the FDA detected Cs-137 contamination of frozen shrimp products exported by PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS).

The company is one of the largest suppliers in the US and is recorded to have shipped 38 million kilograms of shrimp this year.

Not only that, but the FDA also detected Cs-137 contamination of spice products from the Republic of Indonesia.

In a report published by the FDA, exposure to Cesium-137 radioactive substances was detected in the cloves sent by the company PT Natural Java Spice to California.

Based on these findings, the FDA then blocked the import of all spices from PT Natural Java Spices (NJS).

The FDA emphasized that it will tighten supervision of all products from Indonesia, both spices and seafood.

All products from the two Indonesian companies will remain detained until there is evidence of improvement.

In fact, it is possible that the ban list will be expanded if new violations of products from Indonesia are found.