Indonesia Tightens Aluminum Contamination Controls on Swiftlet Nest Exports

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia's Agricultural Quarantine Agency in Banten has ramped up efforts to safeguard the country's swiftlet nest (bird's nest) export industry, training dozens of quarantine officers this week on aluminum contamination control as Jakarta works to protect its access to the lucrative Chinese market. In a statement received on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in Jakarta, the training drew 42 participants and forms part of a broader push to ensure Indonesian bird's nest products meet international food safety standards.

Swiftlet nests, a delicacy prized in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine, represent one of Indonesia's most valuable agricultural export commodities. However, the product's high mineral content, including aluminum, has made contamination control a persistent regulatory challenge for exporters seeking to maintain access to China, by far the industry's largest market.

The session featured technical experts including Dr. Mohammad Khotib, head of the Integrated Chemistry Laboratory at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), who presented findings on aluminum contamination control methods. Officials from Indonesia's central quarantine authority, including veterinarians Leonardus Bishara and Wignya Kusuma, also briefed participants on national risk management protocols, with the session moderated by veterinary officer Harianto.

A central focus of the training was the rollout of two new government regulations: Deputy for Animal Quarantine Decree No. 22 of 2026, governing quarantine procedures for swiftlet nest shipments from Indonesia to China, and Decree No. 24 of 2026, which establishes monitoring guidelines for the same export channel. Both regulations are designed to strengthen quality assurance, traceability, and compliance with export protocols specifically tailored to Chinese import requirements.

According to materials presented at the training, contamination control must be applied systematically across the entire production chain, from swiftlet house management and water quality control to facility sanitation, critical control points in processing, traceability systems, and regular laboratory testing.

Head of Karantina Banten, Duma Sari, said the agency views swiftlet nests as a strategic export commodity requiring close attention to quality and food safety. "This training is a milestone in strengthening our officers' competency and ensuring field-level standards remain robust," she said, according to a statement from the agency.

She added that the Agency's goal is to ensure Indonesian swiftlet nest exports consistently meet international standards and trade requirements. "We want to make sure the swiftlet nest products we export meet international standards and international trade requirements, so that Indonesia's credibility as an exporting country is maintained," Duma Sari said.

The Agency said it hopes the training will translate into more effective monitoring of export shipments going forward, helping secure continued market access and trust with trading partners, particularly China, which remains the primary destination for Indonesian bird's nest exports.