November 6, 2025 | 03:22 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is working to ensure the complete resumption of Indonesian shrimp exports to the United States this month.
Ishartini, the Head of Quality Control and Supervision of Marine and Fisheries Products at the ministry confirmed that all local fish management units are now fully committed to implementing stringent new safety regulations.
This strict oversight focuses on shrimp harvested and processed in the regions of Java and Lampung.
"By November, we are targeting to send more than 200 containers certified as Cesium-137-free," Ishartini stated during a press conference on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
This follows an initial successful shipment on October 31, 2025, which totaled 106 tons and was valued at US$1.2 million.
Ensuring Safety Standards
The initial shipment underwent rigorous verification by several Indonesian state agencies, including Customs, the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
These continued efforts are a direct response to high demand. Ishartini explained that the US market specifically seeks Indonesian shrimp, which is prized for its unique flavor profile compared to products from other exporting nations.
Addressing Radioactive Contamination Concerns
Indonesian shrimp exports were previously halted after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported finding Cesium-137 contamination in shrimp in July 2025. Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope. The contamination was traced to the Cikande industrial area in Tangerang, Banten.
To prevent recurrence, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is requiring one facility, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati, to overhaul its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and undergo a full audit by a third party appointed by the FDA.
This is necessary to certify that their products are definitively free from Cesium-137 exposure.
Furthermore, 41 Fish Processing Units (UPIs) across Java and Lampung have been placed on a "Yellow List."
This designation subjects them to additional requirements to certify that their shrimp is free from the radioactive contaminant.
These UPIs have since received training and socialization on conducting proper scanning and sampling of shrimp prior to export.
"All our updated SOPs are complete, and we are now moving swiftly to resume our exports," Ishartini concluded, signaling confidence that Indonesian suppliers can meet international health and safety benchmarks.
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