ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – A major breakthrough for Indonesia’s fisheries sector — thousands of containers of Indonesian shrimp en route to the United States have officially been cleared for entry after the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) reached a crucial agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA).
The agreement was finalized on October 18 (U.S. time) following a series of intensive negotiations concerning the newly implemented Import Alert (IA) #99-52, a policy that had raised concern among Indonesian exporters and shrimp industry stakeholders.
According to Ishartini, Head of the Agency for Quality Control and Inspection of Marine and Fisheries Products, the negotiation outcome was a decisive diplomatic success.
“After several rounds of virtual bilateral meetings with the FDA, their top leadership finally agreed to allow thousands of Indonesian shrimp containers to enter the U.S., even if they arrive after October 31, 2025,” Ishartini said in Jakarta, quoted on Monday, October 27, 2025.
Earlier, the U.S. government had issued Import Alert #99-52, which takes effect on October 31, 2025, tightening import controls on seafood products. The rule initially threatened the fate of more than a thousand shrimp containers already in transit from Indonesia, which were expected to arrive beyond the deadline without the additional documentation required.
Through diplomatic engagement and solid quality assurance evidence, KKP successfully convinced the FDA that over 1,000 containers of shrimp had undergone strict quality assurance and were accompanied by Certificates of Quality for Fishery Products (SMKHP) issued by the KKP.
Inspection and Compliance with U.S. Regulations
Although the dispensation was granted, all shrimp shipments will still be subject to FDA inspection upon arrival in the United States — particularly for Cesium-137 contamination tests, in accordance with U.S. regulations. The same checks will also apply to shipments arriving before the October 31 deadline.
Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono emphasized that Indonesia remains fully committed to maintaining international confidence in its fishery exports.
“KKP, as the competent authority, has been recognized by the FDA as a Certifying Entity (CE) for Indonesian shrimp. We are fully committed to upholding global quality control and assurance standards to ensure our fishery products remain accepted in international markets,” Minister Trenggono said.
This diplomatic success not only safeguards thousands of high-value shrimp containers but also highlights Indonesia’s strong position in the global seafood supply chain.
With swift coordination across agencies, KKP ensured the continuity of shrimp exports to the U.S. market — further solidifying Indonesia’s reputation as one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters. (AT Network)
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