The North Sulawesi Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency (Sulut) has confirmed that 20 tons of desiccated coconut from the region are safe and ready for export to the Netherlands. "Processed coconut products are one of North Sulawesi's top plantation commodities that are highly sought after in the international market," said I Wayan Kertanegara, Head of the North Sulawesi Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency, in Manado on Tuesday. He stated that before being permitted for export, processed coconut products must undergo inspection by North Sulawesi Quarantine Agency officers to ensure they meet the required standards. The North Sulawesi Quarantine Agency, through the Port Service Unit (Satpel) at Bitung Seaport, conducted inspections on 26 tons of desiccated coconut owned by PT Tropika Cocoprima (TCP) before export to the Netherlands. These inspections include physical and administrative checks, as well as the health of the carrying medium to verify the type, quantity, and size, as well as the completeness of the required documents for the destination country.
Additionally, the inspections are conducted to ensure that the commodities are free from quarantine plant pests (OPTK) such as storage pests. Head of the Plant Quarantine Team, Dwi Rachmanto, explained that desiccated coconut is considered a low-risk medium for carrying OPTK. This means the product poses minimal risk in spreading OPTK threats to the destination country, as it has undergone processing in accordance with the standards set by the destination country. He also noted that the Quarantine Agency plays a crucial role not only in preventing the spread of animal, fish, and plant diseases between areas and countries but also in ensuring food safety as mandated by Law No. 21 of 2019. The quarantine agency is responsible for ensuring the quality of plantation products exported to various countries. This ensures that exported products, like desiccated coconut, meet international safety and quality standards, thus maintaining their high demand in global markets.
