Indonesia Initiates Safeguard Measure On Fish Imports

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya JAKARTA, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Indonesia is initiating a safeguard measure on fish imports to protect the local fish market and products. Local media reported that the Indonesia Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry and the Indonesia Trade Ministry would soon notify the World Trade Organisation (WTO) of the move. It quoted Fishery Product Processing and Marketing Director-General Victor P.H. Nikijuluw as saying that safeguard measure is allowed by the WTO when fish from overseas causes injury to local products and the domestic market. According to reports, the domestic market has been flooded with imported fish off late, particularly mackarel. Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo said the ministry had never allowed the importation of mackarel in the interest of the domestic market and local fishermen. "We allow free market but we also have to protect the domestic market," he said. The Quarantine, Quality Control and Safety of Fisheries Product Agency recently destroyed 28 tonnes of frozen mackarel from China for failing to meet the ministry's quality control and safety requirements. -- BERNAMA