TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Agriculture Ministry through the Agriculture Quarantine Agency (BBKP) in Surabaya destroyed a total of 1.5-ton napa cabbage seeds worth Rp1.2 billion from South Korea in a bid to prevent the spread of plant diseases in Indonesia.

The imported cabbage seeds reportedly contained bacterium classified in the A1 category that has not been detected yet in the country. Based on the results of the BBKP Surabaya laboratory tests, soil bacterium Pseudomonas Viridiflava and A2-category bacteria Pseudomonas Cichorii were found in the commodity.

The Surabaya BBKP Head Musyaffak Fauzi said bacterium Viridiflava has not been observed in Indonesia and could not be handled yet. “While P. Cichorii already exists in Indonesia and has a broad host,” said Musyaffak in a written statement in Jakarta, Thursday, July 16.

He underlined that such bacteria in the napa cabbage seeds could pose a serious threat to the country’s plants, especially horticultural crops. The commodity destruction took place in PT KSI Kediri by burning.

Musyaffak outlined that every imported commodity must pass the test before it is allowed to enter Indonesia.

As for the napa cabbage seeds, he added, a number of requirements had been met, such as the mandatory submission of a Phytosanitary Certificate from the country of origin and an entry permit from the Agriculture Ministry, as well as a certificate declaring it is free from plant pests.

Read: Agriculture Ministry Says PSBB Hinders Food Distribution

ANTARA