Indonesia suspends white shrimp exports to the U.S.! FDA sets deadline of October 31 to complete "non-radiation" certification.

The new directive from the FDA stems from the detection of trace amounts of cesium-137, a radioactive isotope, in products from Indonesia's largest shrimp company, Bahari Makmur Sejati (BMS), in the United States. BMS has been placed on a "red list" and must undergo a comprehensive third-party audit before it can resume export eligibility, while other processing plants from Java and Lampung are now on a "yellow list," and all their products must be officially certified as "radiation-free" before they can be shipped. Documents from the Indonesian government show that exports from Java and Lampung account for approximately 99% of Indonesia's total shrimp exports to the United States, with an annual export value exceeding $1 billion. As a result, local processing plants have suspended taking orders, and pond prices have plummeted. Of the 26 containers returned by the United States, 18 were found to contain traces of cesium-137 during re-examination in Indonesia. BMS even proactively ...