Indonesia destroys 312 tonnes of Brazilian MBM found to contain porcine
The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) has destroyed 312 tonnes of meat and bone meal (MBM) imported from Brazil, valued at IDR 2.4 billion, after laboratory tests revealed it contained porcine material despite documentation and packaging stating it was free from pork elements.
Barantin head Abdul Kadir Karding said the product was declared safe from foot-and-mouth disease and Salmonella bacteria, but the presence of porcine content meant it failed to meet the requirements agreed upon by Indonesia and Brazil. “The state must not lose or be careless. The carrier media must not bring pests or diseases, and incoming commodities must also comply with halal provisions,” he said in Bogor, West Java.
Karding explained that quarantine measures for non-compliant commodities can include rejection or destruction. In this case, the government opted for destruction to ensure the product could not re-enter circulation and to create a deterrent effect. “We did not choose re-export because we were concerned the goods might just change ports. Secondly, this action is meant to deter all business actors from thinking twice about doing the same thing,” he said.
The destruction was carried out at the integrated waste management facility of PT Prasada Pamunah Limbah Industri in Klapanunggal, Bogor Regency, using a stabilisation method before the material was buried in accordance with waste processing procedures. All costs of the destruction were borne by the importing company, not the government budget.
Barantin also warned that the case could lead to criminal proceedings if further investigation uncovers evidence of intentional wrongdoing, including suspected document falsification. “If there are criminal indications, this case will be taken to criminal proceedings. Do not try to play around; there is zero tolerance because this concerns the public interest,” Karding stressed.
The Ministry of Agriculture has revoked the approval for one business unit in Brazil that exported the MBM to Indonesia and temporarily suspended four other units pending an explanation from Brazilian authorities. The Head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Ahmad Haikal Hasan, described the case as a serious violation, noting that the documentation and packaging carried halal certification and a ‘free from pork’ label, yet laboratory testing proved otherwise. He said the case demonstrated collaboration between BPJPH, Barantin, and the Ministry of Agriculture in protecting the public and ensuring imported commodities meet safety and halal requirements.