Economy & Business

European Union Postpones Export of Fishery Commodities
Saturday, 07 May, 2005 | 15:37 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The European Union (EU) has postponed the export of fishery commodities from 16 Indonesian fishery companies from Indonesia as their tuna products are considered to contain elements of histamine.

In addition, other 11 companies have had their export licenses revoked by Indonesian Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries.

Indonesian Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Freddy Numbery denied that the tuna products contained any elements of histamine.

The Indonesian government filed an objection regarding this matter during a meeting with European Union Commission of Health and Consumer Protection because the elements of histamine element were found in retail markets after being passed at the EU countries’ ports of entry.

“The EU has said that it would conduct a review on exporters whose exports have been postponed,” said Numbery.

The postponement of export activities to EU countries relating to 16 Indonesian fishery companies has been carried out since November 2004.

“For the time being, please do not conduct any export activity until the inspection team arrives in September 2005,” stated Numbery.

The inspection is aimed at evaluating the process of catching fishery commodities, the equipment used and the sanitation program.

“We will apply a procedure similar to that used in countries all over the world,” said Numbery.

During the meeting, discussions also focused on the planned bilateral cooperation between the EU and Indonesia in the fisheries sector.

This cooperation aimed at sustainable fisheries development (consolidated packages) starting from joint-ventures and including processing and marketing, as well as a reduction of import tariffs on fishery products and market expansion for Indonesian fishery products to the EU.

The European Union will also help in terms of the capacity building of Indonesia’s fishery products.(Rini Kustiani-Tempo News Room)