Indonesia halts exports from seafood producer after virus tests

The ministry said that the virus was detected on the outermost side of the package, not on the fish. PHOTO: REUTERS

JAKARTA (REUTERS) - Indonesia has suspended exports from Indonesian seafood company PT Putri Indah to China after its frozen fish products tested positive for the coronavirus, the country's fisheries ministry said in a statement last Saturday (Sept 19).

The ministry said that an investigation was under way and that the suspension would only apply to PT Putri Indah "whereas the others can still do export activities as usual".

The virus was detected on the outermost side of the package, not on the fish, the ministry said.

The seven-day suspension began last Friday, it said.

A person in charge of marketing, answering a number listed for PT Putri Indah, hung up the phone without replying.

China's General Administration of Customs said last Friday that it would stop accepting import applications from PT Putri Indah for one week after a batch of frozen hairtail fish from the company tested positive for the coronavirus.

China customs said on Sept 11 it would halt imports from companies for a week if their frozen products tested positive a first or second time for the coronavirus.

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