Indonesia strengthens checks on fresh fruit and vegetables

Indonesia’s quarantine agency has tightened checks on fresh food shipments moving between regions by sea, especially fruit and vegetables.

The measure supports the country’s Free Nutritious Meals programme and aims to ensure safe, healthy and good-quality food supplies for nutrition service units, particularly in North Sulawesi. The item was published by Indonesia’s quarantine authority on May 14, 2026.

According to the agency, quarantine officers inspect horticultural shipments to make sure they are free from plant pests and safe from possible biological and chemical contamination. The checks are also intended to prevent the spread of plant pests between regions, which could affect agricultural and plantation productivity.

When commodity owners report a shipment, officers carry out physical inspections to check that fruit and vegetables are fresh, undamaged and meet quarantine requirements. They also verify the type, quantity and volume of the goods against the submitted documents.

The agency said careful inspections are important to prevent smuggling and illegal shipments that could threaten food safety.

source and photo: karantinaindonesia.go.id