Called Ombudsman Performs Maladministration In Handling PMK, This Is The Response Of The Agricultural Quarantine Agency

Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Barantan) Bambang. (ANTARA/M. Baqir Idrus A)

JAKARTA - Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (Barantan) Bambang ensures that there is no maladministration in the entire process of animal quarantine measures to prevent the spread of mouth and nail disease (PMK) outbreaks. According to him, the entire process carried out by Barantan is transparent.

Bambang said this in response to the Ombudsman who advised the government to review Barantan's performance, especially regarding animal quarantine. The Ombudsman assessed that Barantan was negligent in identifying the risk of spreading the FMD outbreak from East Java to various other regions in Indonesia.

"It means transparent. If there is maladministration, it will definitely be caught because the information technology system has been used, (i.e.) export-import single submission for all quarantine transaction processes that are known to Customs and Excise, port authorities, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and other parties," he said at the Ministry Building. Agriculture, Jakarta, Thursday 21 July.

The Ombudsman also considers Barantan's supervisory function to be weak, which can be seen from the emergence of three types of exotic diseases or livestock disease outbreaks in Indonesia from 2019 to May 2022, namely the African swine fever outbreak, skin rash, and FMD.

Furthermore, the implementation of the performance of the Animal Quarantine Agency (BKH) is considered by the Ombudsman to be not in harmony with the existing animal health functions at the central and regional levels.

Among them, Animal Quarantine has never submitted a release certificate to the competent authorities of the destination at the provincial, district, or city level for animals imported from other regions.

According to Bambang, his party has not been able to supervise 340 airports, 636 seaports, and 18 cross-border posts due to limited facilities, infrastructure, and human resources, thus allowing the spread of FMD outbreaks.

"Along with the increase in agricultural commodity traffic, in the future it is hoped that Barantan can be present at every border point of the country," he said, according to Antara.

Despite the lack of human resources and infrastructure, Barantan together with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health together with the TNI/Polri are said to be monitoring the traffic of animals prone to FMD.

Throughout 2021 to June 2022, Barantan together with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health together with the TNI/Polri were declared capable of catching and exterminating, including livestock in the form of 1,840 goats from Thailand that were illegally entered in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh.

"The application of biosecurity is also implemented in the form of disinfectant carpets at all airports and ports to control the risk of spreading the FMD virus," said Bambang.

Regarding the Ombudsman's statement which said there was disharmony between the central BKH and the regions, he claimed that his party had given a certificate of release to the regional authorities (veterinary) destination at the provincial, district, and city levels for animals imported from other regions.

If the release certificate is not given to the veterinary authority, Bambang ensures that the livestock to be sent do not pass the health test.

Based on the livestock traffic scheme, a release certificate will be issued by Barantan if the regional authority has issued a veterinary certificate which is proof of the health of the livestock.

“The veterinary certificate is only one of the many requirements when business actors bring transportation to be trafficked. Such as sanitation certificates, health certificates, and recommendations from technical agencies, and other regulations," he said.