RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lifted its suspension on shrimp exports from several Indonesian fish processing plants (UPI), effective May 24, 2026. The decision ends restrictions imposed after Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radionuclide residues were detected in shrimp exports.

“As the National Competent Authority for the export of fish products -- including shrimp, meat, poultry, and their processed products -- to Saudi Arabia, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) continues to ensure compliance with food safety requirements so that Indonesian products meet destination-country standards,” said BPOM head Taruna Ikrar in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 30, as quoted by Antara.

The suspension had affected UD Jinawi Luhur, PT Legong Bali Nusantara, PT Muria Bahari Indonesia, and PT Sekar Laut. The policy was linked to Import Alert 99-52, issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2025, following the detection of Cs-137 residues in Indonesian shrimp and spices.

To restore market access, the government formed a Cs-137 Response Task Force involving multiple ministries and agencies. The task force investigated the source of contamination, strengthened upstream controls, secured the supply chain, and implemented certification and radiation screening of products prior to export.

“The US FDA has confirmed the effectiveness of these control measures through on-site inspections, which subsequently restored confidence among partner-country authorities in Indonesian products,” Taruna said.

BPOM, together with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and other agencies, has also reinforced risk-based oversight and verification of exporters’ compliance with destination-country requirements. These measures were key to reopening access for Indonesian shrimp exports to Saudi Arabia.

“This success reflects a shared commitment to ensuring safety, quality, and compliance with international standards so that Indonesian food products can be accepted and compete in the global market,” Taruna added.

With the reopening of the Saudi market, the government expects Indonesia’s shrimp export performance to improve further. BPOM emphasized that food safety systems will continue to be strengthened to maintain the competitiveness of national fishery products in global markets while meeting international standards. ***