The US government through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set a new policy after detecting the radioactive element cesium-137 (Cs-137) in several shrimp products from Indonesia. The finding prompted the US food agency to issue an Import Alert that contains certification obligations for products from areas considered high risk.
The case stems from the discovery of Cs-137 in frozen shrimp processed at PT Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS) in Banten. The company is now on the FDA's red list . The agency said radioactive exposure in Indonesia could stem from a contamination incident in Serpong in 2020 and residual particles from a metal smelting facility in the Cikande industrial area, which the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency is investigating.
In its official statement, the FDA emphasized that the step was taken to protect American consumers and ensure the safety of imported food. The agency also cited Indonesia as one of the regions that requires increased risk-based surveillance, in line with the mandate of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) which emphasizes prevention rather than inspection after an incident occurs.
Starting October 31, 2025, the FDA will require import certification for any shipment of shrimp from Java Island and Lampung Province, an area categorized as high-risk. The certification can only be issued by an official Indonesian Government agency designated by the FDA as the Certifying Entity. Without this certificate, any shipment to the US is at risk of being detained or even refused entry to the port.
Responding to this, Chairman of Shrimp Club Indonesia (SCI) Andi Tamsil assessed that certification is indeed very important to solve the problem. However, he revealed that he had not received detailed information from the government regarding the process.
Until now the government, says Andi, has not appointed an agency or institution that will act as a certifier. "We also don't know whether the government is ready for this and which institution is competent to do this," he said.
On the other hand, Andi assessed that there are concerns among business actors if the certification process is actually implemented. Andi believes that certification has the potential to make bureaucracy more complicated and increase export costs. With certification, every shrimp that will be exported to the US must pass an inspection first.
"From our data, we can send 2000 containers per year. That means how many containers must be checked a day? That's why it must be done carefully and involve all related parties," he said.
This case has shaken the domestic shrimp industry, because America is the main market for Indonesian shrimp exports. Andi said, the amount in 2024 reached 63.7% of total national shrimp exports. If you refer to data from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, this figure is equivalent to 135 thousand tons with a value of US$ 1.07 billion.
As a result, Andi said, there was a 30 to 40% decline in national exports. In addition, as many shrimps were returned to the country, the supply of shrimps piled up.
"The price has also fallen, especially in places dominated by BMS, such as Medan," Andi said. He added that there are currently 32 containers that have been repatriated from America and the number is still growing.
While waiting for the certification process, SCI is trying and maximizing exports to other countries as alternative markets. Andi said he is trying to maximize shrimp exports to China. This is because the Chinese market, according to Andi, is relatively large. So far, Indonesian shrimp exports to China have only amounted to 2%. This is important to do as an anticipatory step if the problem in America has not been resolved.
In line with Andi, Saut Hutagalung, spokesperson for the Association of Indonesian Fishery Product Processing and Marketing Producers (AP5I), believes that market diversification to countries other than America is indeed very possible, although not easy. Because, according to him, products exported to America are not only frozen shrimp, but customized shrimp that have been adjusted to the demands of buyers in America.
On the other hand, Saut highlighted the clarity of certification that has a deadline. Saut considered it unclear whether the October 31, 2025 date set by the FDA was the deadline for departure from Indonesia or arrival at an American port.
"If that date is the arrival time, it is impossible. This means that there are only 23 days left before departure. Meanwhile, the shipping time needed to get there can be 30 to 60 days," he said.
Saut added that the government must also be prepared to follow the safety standards set by the United States after the Cs-137 case. "If it is said to be safe for domestic consumption, that is fine. But don't forget, we are talking about exports to America. It' s simple, if we want to trade in people's places, we follow their rules," said Saut.
Maintain reputation
Meanwhile, Aquafeed Associate Director Haris Muhtadi assessed that the case of Cs-137 findings is casuistic and does not reflect the condition of the Indonesian shrimp industry as a whole. He emphasized that the source of contamination is in a limited area, not from the cultivation supply chain such as feed, ponds, or processing. Therefore, according to him, the government needs to localize the problem so as not to create the impression that all Indonesian fishery products are exposed.
Haris said various associations, including the feed industry and shrimp processors, have coordinated with the government so that the certification process is carried out immediately. He considers this step important to restore the confidence of the American market, provided that the certification mechanism is carried out credibly and efficiently. "The problem is only at one point, but it is as if all of Indonesia," he said.
He also thinks the government needs to act quickly so that the industry does not lose momentum. According to him, delays in carrying out certification can have a chain effect on exports and market confidence. Haris emphasized that this case should be a lesson to strengthen the food safety system without damaging the reputation of the national shrimp sector, which has been considered compliant with international standards.
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Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Economic Department Researcher Deni Friawan believes that the FDA's policy requiring import certification for Indonesian shrimp is reasonable given the high risk of radioactivity.
"It is unfortunate because it has a direct impact on Indonesian products abroad," he said. Declining market confidence, Deni said, could suppress demand and weaken national exports amid an economic situation that has not fully recovered.
Deni considers the concerns of business actors regarding the increasingly complicated bureaucracy and additional costs due to certification to be reasonable. However, Deni emphasized that this was an inevitable consequence after the case surfaced. The government, said Deni, needs to reduce the burden on businesses by speeding up the inspection process or helping to cover certification costs so that exports are not held back.
Deni emphasized that the government's quick steps to localize the source of pollution and convey the results of its handling to the public and international trading partners are very important to restore market confidence.
"We often consider health and safety standards applied by developed countries as non-tariff barriers, even though most of them are based on consumer protection. The government and business actors must be aware and fulfill it," he said.
