Indonesian Govt Confirms 18 Containers of Exported Shrimp Not Radioactive

September 17, 2025 | 05:33 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment reassures that 18 containers of shrimp exported from Indonesia, which were returned while still in transit or returned on board (RoB), are free from contamination of radioactive Cesium-137 (Cs-137). This assurance is based on laboratory examination results.

Bara Krishna Hasibuan, Expert Staff to the Minister for Digital Transformation and Interinstitutional Relations at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, stated that the eighteen containers have not yet arrived in the United States; they are still en route.

"Since September 2, 2025, there have been 18 containers of shrimp products that were returned to Indonesia while being exported to the United States," he said at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment office in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

He explained that the company decided to return these containers due to the discovery of Cs-137 contamination in shrimp exported from Indonesia to the United States. After the 18 containers of shrimp returned to Indonesia, all of them were comprehensively examined by a joint team, including the Customs, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin), the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as well as the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

The testing has been completed, and the results are already available. "The examination of the RoB 18 containers for quality and radioactive Cs-137 levels has been completed. The examination results by BRIN indicate that the shrimp products were not detected with radioactive Cs-137," said Bara.

Based on these results, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency issued a release certificate, which was handed over to the company. This means that all the shrimp in the 18 containers are declared safe and fit for consumption.

"The government urges the public not to worry and to consume fishery products, especially shrimp, with confidence," said Bara.

The government previously formed a task force, Satgas, to handle vulnerabilities to radiation hazards and the health of communities at risk. This was done following the rejection of Indonesian shrimp exports in the United States due to the detection of Cs-137 contamination. This task force is led by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Zulkifli Hasan, and involves various ministers and relevant institutions.

"The task force is responsible for synergizing efforts to prevent, control, and protect the community and the environment from radioactive hazards, as well as to maintain the competitiveness of Indonesian export products in international markets," said Bara.

Previously, the Head of the Agency for Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Inspection (KKP), Ishartini, stated that the case originated from a notification by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Customs issued a report regarding the detection of a container of Indonesian shrimp containing radioactive cesium-137 at a certain level.

Ishartini explained that the FDA found frozen shrimp samples containing a radiation level of 68 Bq per kilogram, which is far below the international threshold of 1,200 Bq per kilogram. Based on the test results, the FDA then placed the shrimp products from a company located in the modern industrial area of Cikande, Banten, on a red list.

Following this, Ishartini stated that the KKP, together with the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency, conducted an inspection to trace the supply chain of raw materials for PT BMS shrimp from Lampung and Pandeglang. The tracing results confirmed that there were no traces of Cesium-137 in the ponds or raw materials; therefore, the contamination is suspected to have originated from the external environment of the processing plant.

Bapeten found evidence of possible radioactive exposure in the external area surrounding the plant in Cikande, originating from contamination by old iron. "Bapeten may later be more competent to provide initial suspicions, such as from old iron in the surrounding area. It is suspected that it may contaminate the plant through the air," she said.

To prevent further risks to shrimp products, the government has temporarily sealed the company's production and localized the factory area. KKP also involved BRIN, the police, and the Ministry of Environment in reviewing the location and ensuring comprehensive handling of the radioactive contamination source.

Editor's Choice: Indonesian Govt Seals PT PMT, Cites Suspected Link to Radioactive Frozen Shrimp at BMS Foods

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