Minister Zulkifli calls for upgraded quarantine systems in Indonesia

Kamis, 16 Januari 2025 15:55 WIB

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan (center) delivers a speech during the National Working Meeting of Barantin in Jakarta on Thursday (January 16, 2025). ANTARA/ (Sinta Ambar)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan urged the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) to improve the quality of its human resources, revitalize laboratories, and leverage information technology systems to enhance Indonesia's quarantine capacity.

Hasan emphasized that these measures are paramount for the agency, considering its prominent role in safeguarding the nation against diseases and the entry of spoiled or contaminated goods, including livestock, fish, and agricultural goods.

"Note that the Barantin stands at the forefront, tasked with ensuring the safety of inbound products as well as of those we export," he remarked during the National Working Meeting of Barantin in Jakarta on Thursday.

Focusing on technology, the minister highlighted the importance of the Barantin further developing systems that can facilitate the implementation of the pre-border, border, and post-border quarantine measures.

He then elaborated on the pre-border concept, in which an importing country inspects the condition of a commodity in its country of origin, thereby shortening the quarantine processes to be undertaken within its borders.

"For instance, when China intends to import durians from Thailand, its authorities will immediately deal with quarantine measures in the exporting country, ensuring that there will be no problems once the goods arrive. This approach requires an IT system," he explained.

Hasan further indicated that his three outlined directives aim to guide Barantin in contributing to Indonesia's food self-sufficiency mission by protecting the country and its commodities from infectious diseases.

Earlier, on December 18, 2024, Barantin Head Sahat Panggabean affirmed that his agency is committed to safeguarding Indonesia's sovereignty by ensuring that all imported livestock, fish, and crops comply with national regulations.

He also underscored that throughout 2024, Barantin actively worked to prevent and reject inbound shipments of potentially harmful goods.

"We have lodged complaints with neighboring countries that attempted to send animals, fish, or crops that do not meet requirements," he remarked.