Southeast Sulawesi Quarantine Agency Facilitates Export of 560 kg of Blood Cockles to Thailand

Kendari (ANTARA) — The Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Agency has facilitated the export of fishery commodities comprising 19 boxes of blood cockles with a total weight of 560 kilogrammes, destined for Thailand.

Fish Quarantine Team Leader Amsal Sallolo, contacted in Kendari on Tuesday, said that before dispatch, all commodities were required to undergo physical and clinical inspections at the exporter’s Fish Quarantine Installation.

“Our officers carry out administrative checks to ensure the product type matches the documentation, as well as physical inspections of the commodities and packaging,” Amsal Sallolo said.

He explained that laboratory testing for the pathogen Perkinsus olseni in blood cockles is also conducted periodically through Good Fish Quarantine Practices (CKIB) monitoring, or in accordance with specific requirements from the destination country.

“Once the entire inspection process has been completed and the products are declared healthy, the Southeast Sulawesi Quarantine Agency issues a Fish Health Certificate as a guarantee that the products are safe, of high quality and suitable for marketing in Thailand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Southeast Sulawesi Quarantine Agency A. Azhar affirmed that every export-oriented fishery product must undergo quarantine measures to ensure compliance with international standards.

“This oversight is our commitment to supporting the smooth export of regional commodities. Through proper procedures, we ensure that products originating from Southeast Sulawesi are highly competitive in global markets,” A. Azhar stated.

He added that this export facilitation is expected to motivate fishery businesses in Southeast Sulawesi to continue increasing the volume of shipments of the region’s flagship commodities to overseas markets.