KKP: Two Cs-137 Free Shrimp Export Containers Escape In The US

Head Of The Quality Control And Supervision Agency Of Marine And Fisheries Results Or KKP Quality Agency Ishartini (center) ANTARA/Aji Cakti

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) revealed that two containers of Indonesian shrimp exports with a Cesium-137 radioactive free certificate have been entered and passed the examination in the United States (US).

"On December 9, the first container that came with a Cesium-137 or Cs-137 free certificate, two of them have entered and passed the examination which has now been released," said Head of the Marine and Fisheries Quality Control and Supervision Agency (Badan Mutu KKP) Ishartini as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, December 11.

Ishartini said that from October 31 to December 10, there were 640 containers of exports of Cs-137 free-certified shrimp to the US.

"Hopefully later the other 640 containers will be able to run smoothly and no more examinations will be carried out there, because they already believe Indonesia can carry it out here," he said.

According to him, the KKP is believed to be acertifying entity, so that Indonesian shrimp products exported to the US must be accompanied by a Cs-137 free certificate issued by the KKP Quality Agency.

"Alhamdulillah, starting October 31, we will be able to return to export our shrimp to the US," said Ishartini.

For information, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries released a shrimp product that has received Cesium 137-free certification to the United States.

The release of the first export of shrimp products using a Cesium 137 free certificate took place at the container terminal of Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta on October 31.

KKP through the Quality Body has also prepared a Cs-137 free certification scheme and management in accordance with the requirements set by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Import Alert #99-52.

The US FDA has appointed KKP as a Certifying Entity (CE) for Indonesian shrimp exported to the US.

The KKP has prepared a series of Cs-137 certification business processes with the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (Bapeten) and the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN) to ensure that shrimp exported to the US is Cs-137 free through main screening and testing activities at the critical point of Indonesia's shrimp production chain specifically for the Java and Lampung regions.