Indonesia Strengthens Seafood Exports with Radionuclide Testing

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The government is ensuring Indonesian fishery products meet stringent quality and safety standards to boost competitiveness, including radioactive contamination testing for shrimp exports to the United States and other markets.

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries operates a radionuclide testing laboratory at the Fishery Product Quality Control and Safety Standards Testing Center (BUSPM) in Cipayung, East Jakarta. The facility detects radioactive contamination, including Cesium-137 (Cs-137), a food safety requirement in several export destinations.

Head of the Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency, Ishartini, said the laboratory has received ISO 17025 accreditation, approval from the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten), and recognition from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct testing for multiple radioactive parameters.

She emphasized that the laboratory plays a crucial role in strengthening Indonesia’s fishery product quality assurance system while increasing trading partners’ trust in Indonesian exports.

The BUSPM laboratory tests for radionuclides, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals, and residues. It is the only facility in Indonesia and the first in Southeast Asia capable of radionuclide testing for fish-derived foods.

Laboratory test results can serve as supporting documents for issuing the Fisheries Product Quality and Safety Certificate (SMKHP), which is required for exports to countries demanding products free of radioactive contamination.

The strengthened quality control system aligns with Indonesia’s strong fishery export performance to the United States.

Between October 31, 2025, and June 11, 2026, the ministry oversaw 4,072 containers of shrimp exports to the U.S. Of these, 3,370 entered the market, with a total volume of 51,607 tons and an export value of approximately IDR 8.78 trillion.

With internationally accredited testing facilities, the government expects Indonesian fishery products to gain wider acceptance in global markets and remain competitive amid increasingly stringent international trade requirements. ***