Anticipating The Corona Virus, The Ministry Of Trade Suspends The Import Of Live Animals From China

Ministry of Trade Building. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Anticipating the entry of the corona virus from China, the Ministry of Trade has temporarily suspended imports of live animals from the bamboo curtain country, as well as imports of live animals that have transited from China.

The temporary suspension of imports as outlined in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 10 of 2020 concerning "Prohibition of Temporary Import of Live Animals from China" is only specifically for live animals and not other goods products.

This Regulation of the Minister of Trade is a firm action by the Minister of Trade Agus Supamanto in responding to the global public health emergency due to the spread of the corona virus outbreak originating in Wuhan, China.

The Trade Minister asked for a temporary suspension of imports not to be misinterpreted to all products originating from China. MOT 10/2020 comes into force on the date of promulgation on February 7, 2020.

"Responding to the outbreak of the corona virus in China, the Indonesian government has imposed a ban on the import of live animal species originating from China or transiting into Indonesian territory. However, the prohibition is temporary until the corona virus outbreak subsides," said the Trade Minister. in a statement received by VOI, Thursday, February 13.

The types of animals that are prohibited from import consist of 53 tariff posts for goods, including horses, donkeys, mules and live hinnies; live animals of the ox species; live pigs; sheep and goats, live; live poultry, namely chickens of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl; as well as other live mammals.

In addition, the import ban also includes live animals found in carousels, swings, shooting galleries and other amusement park games; and live animals in the traveling circus and traveling menagerie; and a mobile theater.

The Minister of Trade emphasized that importers are required to re-export to their country of origin or destroy live banned animals that have arrived at Indonesian ports when this Minister of Trade Regulation comes into effect.

The time of arrival of live animals at Indonesian ports is proven by the date of submission of customs notification documents for import in the form of documents BC 1.1, BC 2.0, BC 2.1, BC 2.2, BC 2.3, BC 1.6, PPFTZ-01, or a consignment note.

"Costs for carrying out re-export or destruction are the responsibility of the Importer," said the Trade Minister.

Importers who do not carry out the obligation to re-export to the country of origin or destroy according to the provisions of the laws and regulations within a period of 10 days, will be subject to sanctions in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations.

MOT 10/2020 is an implementation of the results of the coordination meeting at the ministerial level for the economy which was held on February 3, 2020 in Jakarta. This Permendag is also a form of protection for human and animal health which is the responsibility of the government and is in line with Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Previously, the World Health Organization (WHO) had also declared the spread of the corona virus originating from Wuhan, China, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) or a public health emergency of international concern.