28 February 2023 - Technical Assistance I & II
The Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission and the EU Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam visited Nizam Zachman Jakarta Fishing Harbour and the Fish Quarantine and Inspection Standard Examination Laboratory (FQISE/BUSKIPM) to collect information and feedback on ARISE+ Indonesia's contributions to the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MoMAF) in strengthening the quality assurance in the fisheries sector, including the laboratory's testing capacity, Monday (27/02).
At the fish port, the European Commission team met with the port authorities officials and industry representatives to understand Indonesia's efforts and challenges in meeting the EU's quality assurance standards. The visit was an opportunity to see first-hand the progress made and the challenges faced in implementing official controls, in particular the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. The HACCP system is a preventive approach to food safety that identifies and controls potential hazards in the production process. It is a requirement for all fishery products imported into the EU.
In addition to visiting fishing vessels and fish processing facilities to observe the implementation of quality assurance measures, the delegation also visited the Fish Quarantine and Inspection Standard Examination Laboratory (BUSKIPM) to discuss the benefit of training programs facilitated by ARISE+ Indonesia in strengthening the capacity of laboratory testing on the antibiotic, heavy metal and microbiology for fisheries products.
Laboratory testing capacity is essential to detect and measure the levels of antibiotics, heavy metals, and microbiological contaminants in fishery products. The presence of these contaminants in fishery products can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. Therefore, it is essential to have laboratories with the necessary capacity to conduct accurate and reliable testing.
The EU is one of the world's largest markets for fish and fishery products. The EU has stringent regulations regarding the import of fish and fishery products, ensuring that they meet high standards of safety, hygiene, and environmental protection.
The delegation comprised Deputy Head of Unit DG INTPA C.2. South and Southeast Asia, Ian Hoskins, together with Team Leader ASEAN of DG INTPA C.2, Tom Corrie, and EUD Programme Manager, Nur Isravivani, accompanied by ARISE+ Indonesia senior experts, Arief Safari and Alain Peyré.
The delegation was welcomed at the port by the Head of Jakarta Fishing Harbour, Mansur, accompanied by the Coordinator of Surveillance and Certification, Fish Quarantine and Inspection Agency (BKIPM), Tri Handayani, and the representative of the Directorate of Fishery Ports, MoMAF, Agus Akbar.
Mr Mansur extended his appreciation for ARISE+ Indonesia's support, which is very beneficial for strengthening the capacity of the fishery sector.
Ms Tri Handayani highlighted the challenges Indonesia faced in strengthening the capacity of the central laboratory to develop methods for testing microplastic and skills in advanced tests methods for contaminants, as well as strengthening the capacity of inspectors to inspect the fishing vessels more effectively, covering all the fishing ports beyond the Java and Bali provinces. Therefore, she conveyed the need for continued collaboration and support from the EU to address these challenges.
Speaking about the visit, the Deputy Head of Unit, DG INTPA C.2, Mr Ian Hoskins, said, "Overall, the EU support through the ARISE+ Indonesia programme is a positive step towards strengthening the partnership between the EU and Indonesia in promoting quality assurance in fisheries as well as sustainable fisheries. Quality infrastructure and environmental sustainability are two important areas in our cooperation, in line with the EU Global Gateway. This visit allowed the EU team to see the progress, get feedback from the Ministry's officials and the industry, and assess the project's impact."
Mr Hoskins added, "The ARISE+ Indonesia project is an excellent example of the EU's commitment to supporting our partner countries in meeting international trade standards and enhancing their competitiveness in the global market. I am delighted to see this comprehensive capacity-building program delivering positive results in strengthening the fishery sector in Indonesia."
