RI, China hold joint inspection of fishery products to secure exports

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries in Indonesia, along with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), conducted a joint inspection of fish processing facilities in Jakarta on Monday. The inspection focused on assessing compliance with quality and safety standards for fishery products intended for export to China. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to secure and expand market access for Indonesian seafood in one of its largest trading partners. The inspection included visits to three of Indonesia’s 648 fish processing facilities registered with the GACC as of July 19, 2026. These facilities collectively exported more than 5,000 tons of fishery products to China in 2025, valued at around US$18 million. During the assessment, officials evaluated adherence to sanitation, hygiene, food safety protocols, and traceability systems throughout the production chain. The inspection covered a range of frozen commodities, including ribbonfish, leatherjacket fish, cephalopods, swimming crabs, Spanish mackerel, conger eels, and sea snails. The joint inspection was carried out under a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between the two nations. This agreement allows only fisheries companies registered with both the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and the GACC to engage in cross-border trade. The MRA facilitates mutual trust in product quality and ensures compliance with international standards and each country’s regulatory framework. Under this arrangement, the two agencies periodically inspect facilities to verify that they maintain rigorous quality control measures. Ishartini, acting head of the ministry’s Marine and Fisheries Quality Control and Supervision Agency, emphasized that such inspections are a standard practice under the bilateral cooperation agreement. She stated that maintaining high-quality standards is essential for sustaining and growing market access for Indonesian fishery products in China. According to ministry data, total fishery exports to China reached 479,000 tons in value of approximately US$1.2 billion in recent years. Key commodities include squid, seaweed, and ribbonfish. To uphold international market acceptance, the ministry regularly verifies compliance with export quality requirements through Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) compliance. Additionally, the ministry conducts routine monitoring of sanitation, hygiene, and food safety standards. This includes laboratory testing for microbiological contaminants, chemical residues, and other harmful substances. Collaboration with the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) helps track fishery products within the domestic market, ensuring consistency in quality and safety across the supply chain. Recent reports indicate that the government has taken steps to guarantee the availability of fishery products despite global economic uncertainties. At the same time, Indonesia has intensified oversight of imported fish products to align with international benchmarks. The inspection comes amid broader efforts to secure China’s approval for 40 additional Indonesian fish export facilities. These developments underscore the strategic importance of the fishery sector in Indonesia’s economy and its reliance on stable trade relations with major markets like China. As the inspection concludes, officials will likely review findings and determine whether further actions are needed to reinforce compliance and support continued export growth.