June 4, 2009
Meat imports stranded in Indonesian ports
At least 3,400 tonnes of meat were stranded in Indonesian ports since May 20 to June 1, exposing threat to meat availability in the country, an official said on Wednesday (June 3).
Meat Importers Association chairman Thomas Sembiring said that 200 containers consisting of 3,400 tonnes of meat have been stranded in ports for unclear reasons.
Sembiring said that the country needs 400 containers per month, and the amount of containers stranded meant that half of a month's need is threatened.
Jakarta and its surrounding provinces, namely West Java and Banten would be the hardest hit as 80 percent of its meat requirements are imported.
Sembiring said the Agricultural Ministry's Directorate General for Animal Husbandry meanwhile said the reason the meat was stuck was due to forbidden food for Muslims and AH1N1 flu virus. But the Indonesian Ulemas Assembly (MUI), the highest agency to decide whether Indonesia should ban the imported meat or not, has already spoken that the meats are fine.
His association has asked to the Economy Ministry to solve the problem, he said.
Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world and imports 40 percent of its needed meat to meet demand.
