PELAKITA.ID – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), as the Certifying Entity (CE) for shrimp exports to the United States, has successfully met the certification requirements for Cesium-137 (Cs-137)–free products in accordance with the standards of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This achievement was marked by the release of certified radionuclide-free shrimp exports to the United States through ports in Jakarta and Surabaya on Wednesday (Dec 3).
“Today, together with the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs as the Head of the Task Force for Cs-137 Contamination Management, we symbolically released the export of Cs-137–free shrimp to the United States. This is tangible proof that the state is present to protect the Indonesian people from hazardous radioactive contamination, and more importantly, to ensure the sustainability of the national shrimp industry as upstream–downstream economic activities recover,” said Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono at the export release ceremony.
A total of 10 containers of shrimp were exported to the United States. Four were shipped through Tanjung Priok Port and the remaining six through Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, destined for major US entry ports such as Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, and Miami.
“Since the implementation of Import Alert #99-52 by the United States on October 31, I instructed my team that the Cs-137–free certification business process must be ready on that very day. As a result, from October 31 to today, December 3, KKP has successfully certified and shipped 313 containers of shrimp to the US, with a volume of 5.4 thousand tons valued at USD 58.68 million, or approximately IDR 974.04 billion,” Minister Trenggono explained.
More Export Shipments to Follow
Minister Trenggono further stated that KKP is preparing to release additional shrimp exports to the United States on December 4, 5, and 6, 2025, totaling 79 containers, with a volume of 1.6 thousand tons valued at USD 14.58 million.
By December 31, the total export volume is expected to reach 292 containers, amounting to 5.07 thousand tons valued at USD 54.74 million or approximately IDR 908.71 billion.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, told the media that this export release demonstrates the success of cross-sector synergy in addressing the Cesium-137 issue.
“This is a strong message that Indonesia is capable of meeting global standards and continues to strengthen its quality assurance system from upstream to downstream. When problems arise, we respond quickly,” he emphasized.
Industry players represented by the Indonesian Association of Fishery Product Processing and Marketing (AP5I) expressed appreciation to the government—particularly the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, KKP, BAPETEN, BRIN, and the Police Gegana Unit—for working hand-in-hand to facilitate the Cs-137–free shrimp certification process to meet the new US requirements.
“The export release today sends a positive message not only to domestic consumers but especially to the USFDA and global consumers, particularly in the United States. This means upstream–downstream economic activities in the shrimp industry are gradually returning to normal,” said AP5I Chairman Saut Hutagalung.
Saut also stated that business actors and stakeholders under AP5I are committed to complying with government regulations for the sustainability and progress of Indonesia’s fisheries industry.
Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau – KKP