Indonesia Requires Exporter Registration for Fish Products

Indonesia has implemented mandatory registration procedures for exporters of fish products, including fresh, frozen, and canned varieties, to ensure compliance with national quarantine standards

Compliance Answer: Mandatory Registration Procedures for Exporters of Fish Products to Indonesia

Direct Answer

Indonesia requires all exporters of fish and fishery products (including fresh, frozen, and canned varieties) to register with the Indonesian Quarantine Authority (IQA) as a pre-border risk control measure. This registration ensures compliance with Indonesia’s quarantine, biosecurity, traceability, and food safety standards. The Decree of the Deputy of Fish Quarantine of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority Number 13 Year 2025 (hereafter "Decree 13/2025") established the procedures, though it was repealed on 5 May 2026¹. However, the underlying legal framework remains active under Law Number 21 of 2019 and Government Regulation Number 34 of 2024, which mandate IQA’s authority over fish quarantine and import controls^{2, 3}.

Regulation Analysis

1. Legal Basis and Objectives

• Law Number 21 of 2019 ("Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Law") empowers IQA to regulate the import, export, and inter-area movement of fish and fishery products to prevent the entry/spread of pests/diseases and ensure product safety^{2, 3}.
• Government Regulation Number 34 of 2024 designates IQA as the veterinary quarantine authority for fish products².
• Decree of the Head of IQA Number 677 of 2025 lists quarantine pests/diseases of fish and their carriers, forming the technical basis for import requirements⁴.
• Decree 13/2025 (now repealed) originally detailed registration procedures, including:
  • Harmonization with the exporting country’s competent authority.
  • Submission/evaluation of questionnaires and on-site audits.
  • Issuance of registration numbers to compliant exporters^{1, 2, 3}.
• Objectives: Food safety, animal health, biosecurity, traceability, and protection against aquatic diseases (e.g., WOAH-listed diseases)⁴.

2. Key Requirements for Exporters

3. Registration Process (Under Repealed Decree 13/2025)

While Decree 13/2025 is no longer in force, its procedures illustrate Indonesia’s expectations for exporter registration. The steps included:

1. Bilateral Coordination: IQA harmonized requirements with the exporting country’s competent authority^{2, 3}.
2. Questionnaire Submission: Exporters and their national authorities submitted detailed questionnaires on facilities, biosecurity, and traceability².
3. On-Site Audit: IQA conducted audits of exporter facilities to verify compliance^{2, 3}.
4. Registration Decision: IQA issued a registration number to compliant exporters or rejected/suspended non-compliant ones².
5. Periodic Monitoring: Registered exporters were subject to ongoing evaluations².

Note: As of May 2026, Indonesia has not yet notified a replacement regulation, but the legal framework under Law 21/2019 and Government Regulation 34/2024 remains active^{2, 3}.

4. Health Certificate Requirements

• Exporters must provide a Health Certificate (HC) for each shipment, formatted per Decree of the Head of IQA Number 14 Year 2024⁴.
• The HC must declare:
  • Freedom from WOAH-listed aquatic animal diseases.
  • Freedom from Indonesia’s quarantine-listed diseases (per Decree 677/2025)⁴.

5. Suspension and Rejection

• IQA may suspend or reject exporter registrations for:
  • Failure to meet minimum requirements (e.g., biosecurity, traceability)^{2, 3}.
  • Non-compliance with quarantine or food safety standards⁴.
  • Inadequate documentation or audit findings².

Summary Answer

Indonesia mandates pre-border registration for all exporters of fish and fishery products to ensure compliance with quarantine, biosecurity, and food safety standards. The Decree of the Deputy of Fish Quarantine Number 13 Year 2025 (now repealed) established procedures including bilateral coordination, questionnaires, audits, and registration numbers^{1, 2, 3}. While the decree was revoked on 5 May 2026, the legal framework under Law 21/2019 and Government Regulation 34/2024 continues to empower the Indonesian Quarantine Authority (IQA) to enforce these requirements^{2, 3}. Exporters must also comply with Decree 677/2025 (quarantine pests/diseases) and provide a Health Certificate per Decree 14/2024⁴. Non-compliance may result in suspension or rejection of registration². A 12-month grace period (now expired) was originally granted for implementation². Exporters should monitor IQA notifications for updated procedures.

Sources

1. ↩ Decree of the Deputy of Fish Quarantine of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority Number 13 Year 2025 Concerning Procedures for Registration of exporters from the Country of Origin — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NIDN157C1.pdf&Open=True
2. ↩ Decree of the Deputy of Fish Quarantine of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority Number 13 Year 2025 Concerning Procedures for Registration of Exporters from the Country of Origin https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN26/IDN185.pdf&Open=True
3. ↩ Decree of the Deputy of Fish Quarantine of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority Number 13 Year 2025 Concerning Procedures for Registration of exporters from the Country of Origin — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NIDN157.pdf&Open=True
4. ↩ Decree of the Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Authority Concerning Kinds of Quarantine Pests and Diseases of Fish, Causative Organisms, Categories, and Carriers https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/SPS/NIDN156.pdf&Open=True