RI protests U.S. Bio-Terrorism Act<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has sent a letter to the U.S.
\ngovernment to protest against its controversial Bio-Terrorism
\nAct, a senior official said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Director general for industry cooperation and international
\ntrade at the ministry of industry and trade, Pos M. Hutabarat,
\nsaid the act was seen as a serious threat to the country's
\nexports.<\/p>\n
The U.S. is one of Indonesia's largest export markets.<\/p>\n
The Bio-Terrorism Act was initiated in 2002, following the
\nSept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.<\/p>\n
The act permitted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to
\nrespond quickly to any threat to the U.S. food supply.<\/p>\n
Under the act, agriculture and food-related companies who want
\nto export their goods to the U.S. must register themselves with
\nthe FDA. After registering, the exporters are also obliged to
\ngive prior notice to the FDA over the arrival of their goods,
\notherwise the products will not be allowed to enter the U.S.
\nmarket and the exporters will bear the cost of storage or re-
\nexport.<\/p>\n
Pos said that the Bio-Terrorism Act was not in violation of
\nthe terms set under the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling,
\nbut nevertheless Indonesia appealed to the U.S. to review the
\npolicy, particularly as it would adversely affect developing
\ncountries, whose economies rely on exports.<\/p>\n
He said that one of the requirements that would become a new
\nburden for local exporters was the mandatory use of the Internet
\nfor export registration.<\/p>\n
He said that this would create extra cost for exporters, many
\nof whom were also not familiar with the Internet.<\/p>\n
Pos said that many other countries had also lodged similar
\ncomplaints with the U.S. government.<\/p>\n
The U.S. is expected to soon notify the WTO about the new
\nruling, and within three months the international trade body
\nwould decide whether the Bio-Terrorism Act complies with WTO
\nlaws.<\/p>\n
The U.S. government has targeted the act to become fully
\neffective in November of this year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-protests-us-bio-terrorism-act-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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