Barantin pushes for gradual strengthening of quarantine laboratories

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) is pushing for the gradual strengthening of quarantine laboratories to enhance surveillance capabilities for commodities entering Indonesia. Head of Barantin, Abdul Kadir Karding, stated that strengthening the laboratories is necessary to support the effectiveness of surveillance, particularly in ensuring the health aspects of commodities. “Ideally, Barantin should have large integrated laboratories at all points, but we must proceed slowly,” Karding said at the Indonesian Quarantine Agency office in Jakarta on Monday. Karding explained that integrated laboratories are needed to support inspections of commodities at various entry points. According to him, the availability of more extensive and adequate laboratories will strengthen Barantin’s ability to detect health risks in incoming commodities. Barantin has 38 operational technical implementing units (UPT) and 2 non-operational UPTs spread across strategic entry and exit points, such as ports, airports, and border areas throughout Indonesia. The current quarantine laboratories are located in these 38 operational UPTs as well as one non-operational UPT dedicated to laboratories, namely the Main Centre for Testing Quarantine Standards for Animals, Fish, and Plants. He added that strengthening laboratory capacity is also part of the national quarantine system modernisation. In addition, Barantin already has equipment to support testing, including examinations of specific aspects of products. “We are already using equipment for detecting halal products. Barantin has it,” he said. Karding stated that this strengthening is being carried out gradually through the modernisation of laboratory facilities, including upgrades to equipment, improvements to infrastructure, and enhancement of human resources in various quarantine service units. He noted that ideally, integrated laboratories should be available at all commodity entry points. However, building these facilities requires a process as they must be aligned with the readiness of infrastructure and supporting systems in the field. Barantin has prepared a budget of around Rp4 trillion to Rp5 trillion for modernising all quarantine laboratories in Indonesia until 2027. This modernisation covers the replacement of laboratory equipment, building repairs, improvements to service systems, and strengthening of human resources. The programme aims to reinforce the laboratories’ role in overseeing quarantine performance, while also increasing service speed and transparency. With this laboratory strengthening, Barantin is expected to improve the quality of surveillance and safeguard the security of commodities circulating domestically.