The Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) has launched a new trade cooperation scheme with Australia through the implementation of a pre-border concept and strengthening of biosecurity systems for export-import activities. The Head of Barantin, Sahat Manaor Panggabean, stated that the two countries have agreed to strengthen the harmonization of quarantine systems, conduct joint research, and improve human resource capacity. "This has been a long process. We've discussed many things, but everything is underpinned by the implementation of the biosecurity concept," Sahat said in a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Friday (August 1). The pre-border concept allows the entire quarantine process to be carried out in the country of origin before products are shipped to Indonesia. With this scheme, incoming goods are guaranteed to be free of pests and diseases.
Meanwhile, biosecurity is a risk control system aimed at protecting domestic biological resources from the threat of pests. This concept includes strengthening laboratories, detection systems, and enforcing compliance throughout the supply chain. Under this collaboration, quarantine documents will also be processed electronically to improve traceability while reducing logistics and demurrage costs. This Indonesia-Australia collaboration extends beyond wheat imports. Barantin is also opening access for Indonesian mangosteen exports to Australia using a pre-border scheme with biosecurity standards agreed upon by both countries. "There are two agreed-upon commodities: wheat from Australia to Indonesia, and mangosteen from Indonesia to Australia, with technical requirements that have been discussed," explained Sahat. Going forward, this system will be expanded to other commodities. Sahat stated that this step also marks a transformation in Indonesia's quarantine services, which now utilize electronic certificates, in line with international standards submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
