Successful Negotiations Allow Indonesia to Resume Shrimp Exports to Saudi Arabia
The Ministry of Marine and Fisheries (KKP), as the competent authority (CA) for the Fishery Quality and Safety Assurance System (SJMHKP), has successfully convinced Saudi Arabia’s CA, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), to lift the moratorium on Indonesian wild-caught shrimp exports effective 24 May 2026.
“This success in convincing SFDA to lift the moratorium on Indonesian wild-caught shrimp exports is the result of collaborative efforts and synergy between the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs (Kemenko Pangan), KKP, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag), and the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh,” said Ishartini, head of the Marine and Fisheries Quality Control and Supervision Agency (Badan Mutu KKP), in Jakarta on Friday, 29 May 2026.
She noted that the temporary suspension of Indonesian wild-caught shrimp exports to Saudi Arabia was imposed on 9 September 2025 via notification to BPOM. Subsequently, BPOM collaborated with KKP as the CA, Kemenko Pangan, Kemendag, and the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh. This inter-ministerial and inter-agency collaboration enabled comprehensive negotiations between Indonesia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the Riyadh embassy playing an active role.
“The temporary suspension was due to Saudi Arabia’s requirement for Cesium-137-free contamination in shrimp products. When we presented the management and implementation of Cesium-137 certification in the fisheries sector, SFDA was satisfied and subsequently revoked the decision,” Ishartini stated.
Indonesian Trade Attaché at the Riyadh embassy, Zulvri Yenni, confirmed the statement from the head of Badan Mutu KKP. He explained that over recent months, the Riyadh embassy had proactively engaged with SFDA and coordinated with Kemenko Pangan, BPOM, KKP, and Kemendag.
“This coordination confirmed Indonesia’s successful implementation of Cesium-137 certification in the fisheries sector, leading SFDA to end the temporary suspension.”
“Saudi Arabia is a strategic market for Indonesian fisheries products, both for local consumption and for Hajj and Umrah requirements annually. Currently, 63 fisheries companies have obtained SFDA approval or registration to export to Saudi Arabia. With the lifting of the wild-caught shrimp moratorium, we hope to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian fisheries products in Saudi Arabia,” Ishartini said.
Previously, Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono repeatedly affirmed KKP’s commitment as the CA to ensure the quality and safety of Indonesian fisheries products from upstream (both wild-catch and aquaculture) to downstream, including suppliers, processing units, and exporters, consistently to position Indonesian fisheries products as global market leaders.