Antiterrorism body expected to protect exports<\/p>\n
Tony Hotland, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government will set up a national anti-bioterrorism
\ncommittee in a bid to protect the country's export commodities on
\nthe international market, especially in response to the United
\nStates' newly endorsed Bioterrorism Act.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-
\nJakti said on Wednesday that bioterrorism issues had a close
\nrelationship to economic matters.<\/p>\n
\"Bioterrorism is mainly facilitated through chemical and
\nbiological substances that are mostly used in sectors like
\nagriculture, plantations, animal husbandry and fisheries. We must
\nprotect these sectors,\" he said after opening a seminar on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
The committee will act as the focal point to respond to
\ninquiries from foreign countries regarding the level of chemical
\nand biological substances in exported products, as well as to
\nmonitor and trace the use of such substances in the country to
\nprevent the development of chemical weapons.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Research and Technology M. Hatta Radjasa
\nsaid that such substances, largely used in various manufacturing
\ncompanies in Indonesia, had the potential to be misused.<\/p>\n
\"For example, the substances used to produce paint can
\nactually be used to make explosives. That's why we need to be
\nable to trace them, keeping in mind that up to now there's been
\nno body responsible for these tasks,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the committee is also in response to U.S.
\nregulations issued late last year that require facilities and
\nindividuals that use, store or transport chemical and biological
\nsubstances to adhere to specific biosecurity procedures designed
\nto maintain oversight and control over those materials.<\/p>\n
Realizing that such substances can also be acquired from
\noverseas, the U.S. government decided to impose the regulations
\non products coming from abroad.<\/p>\n
The U.S. is one of Indonesia's main export markets.
\nIndonesia's non-oil and gas exports in the first quarter of the
\nyear reached US$11.47 billion, with some $1.75 billion worth of
\ngoods sold to the U.S. market.<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun acknowledged that domestic exporters would be
\nburdened with extra expenses, but assured that this was the best
\npreventive method and was necessary.<\/p>\n
Extra expenses will likely be incurred in the form of fees for
\nscientific analysis of the exported products by an
\ninternationally accredited laboratory.<\/p>\n
\"Just compare the benefit of spending money on the analysis to
\nthe loss incurred if the products are exported without analysis
\nand the products are returned,\" Dorodjatun said.<\/p>\n
Dorodjatun expects the committee, which will be chaired by the
\nresearch and technology minister, to start operation before the
\nyear-end as the draft on the committee is being finalized.<\/p>\n
The committee is also a consequence of the ratification of the
\nChemical Weapons Convention in 1997. The convention requires all
\nsignatory countries to establish a national committee that
\nanswers to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
\nWeapons.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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