Soekarno-Hatta Airport Destroys 78kg Illegal Foreign Vegetables

TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - The Agricultural Quarantine Office (BBKP) of Soekarno-Hatta Airport destroyed a total of 78 kilograms of seeds of vegetable plants, herbs, and fruits for several reasons on Sunday, March 24.

The BBKP head Ali Jamil Harahap said that all horticultural commodities were not valid to enter Indonesia. “Because the products are prohibited or not equipped with quarantine administrative requirements based on Law No. 16 of 1992 concerning the quarantine of animals, fish, and plants,” said Ali in a written statement that Tempo received on Monday, March 25.

The commodities included vegetable plant seeds, banana seeds, pepper seeds, ginger seeds, and various vegetables in packages amounted to 78.015 kilograms, 595 pieces, and 162 packages. Moreover, the agency also dismantled animal products, such as meats, eggs, sausages, and other processed products totaled 182.2 kilograms and 24 pieces.

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All horticultural commodities were confiscated goods resulted from 50 cases in the international departure terminal throughout March 2019.

The BBKP Soekarno-Hatta head, Imam Djajadi, hoped for the public awareness and support, especially those who returned from overseas, to concern on their belongings related to horticultural products.

“Make sure you bring healthy, good products and report it to quarantine officers in airports,” Imam underlined.

Earlier in January, the Agriculture Ministry destroyed 561 pieces of pepper seeds and one kilogram of ginger from India in Soekarno-Hatta Airport because they entered Indonesia without a phytosanitary certificate from Indian quarantine authority.

JONIANSYAH