bu FoodBizDaily.com staff writer
November 19 2009 - Indonesia’s agricultural ministry has imposed stricter regulations for fruit and vegetable imports to prevent hazardous chemical residues.
Under the new regulation, which will be effective from November 19, 2009, importers are obliged to submit a certificate to declare that imported fruits and vegetables do not contain dangerous chemicals as regulated by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The new regulation is aimed to protect Indonesians form consuming unhealthy fruits and vegetables; especially from hazardous and possibly toxic chemical residues.
The ministry reported that its requirements have been well accepted by its trading countries. Some countries -- such as Australia, the US, the European Union and China -- are fully ready to comply with the new regulations and have already been recognized as safe fruit and vegetable exporters.
Fruit and vegetables with no certification letters must be tested for safety. If proven not safe, everything will be sent back to country of origin or be destroyed.
The Indonesian Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters and Importers Association said that it welcomes the new legal standards as long as they are implemented fairly.
Data from Indonesia’s agriculture ministry shows that in 2008 the value of imported vegetables hit US$442.41 million, up 25.9% from the previous year. For fruit imports the value in 2008 reached $474.19 million, 5.57 % higher than the year before.