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Indonesia temporarily halts live animal cargoes from China, the rest business as usual
The Transportation Ministry has assured that it would apply a special procedure on cargoes from China.
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Illustration of air cargo. (Shutterstock/Jaromir Chalabala)
I
ndonesia plans to temporarily halt cargoes of live animals from China to prevent the Wuhan coronavirus from entering the country, but will continue to receive other shipments of goods — via both air and sea — as usual.
“In a Cabinet meeting with President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo [on Tuesday], which was also attended by Transportation Minister, it was decided that we will carry on with our previous arrangements for shipments from China, except for live animals,” Transportation Ministry spokesman Hengki Angkasawan said on Wednesday.
He added that there were no cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) being transmitted through goods.
The Transportation Ministry has assured that it would apply a special procedure on cargoes from China.
Read also: Indonesia to decide whether to ban more Chinese imports over coronavirus concerns
“We will carry out specific measures for air cargo from China,” the ministry’s director general of civil aviation, Novie Riyanto, said in a statement obtained by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
The procedure will include the following:
1. Airports that serve cargo flights from China must provide isolated parking areas.
2. Specific measures will be carried out on the aircraft. They will involve Air Traffic Control (ATC), the Port Health Office (KKP) and ground handling personnel. Ground handling personnel are required to wear hazmat suits when handling the aircraft.
3. Air transportation companies must report crew members and cargo manifests to the airport. The data will be handed to local authorities, including the Port Health Office, as well as to ground handling personnel.
4. In-charge ATC officers must report the aircraft to the head of the airport.
5. The authorities will disinfect the aircraft, crew members, luggage and the cargo.
6. Aircraft crew members are not allowed to disembark while the aircraft is on the ground.
Hengki added that the Transportation Ministry would coordinate with the Agriculture Ministry, Trade Ministry and Health Ministry in determining a specific procedure for handling cargo with horticulture and food products — including garlic and fruits — from China.
