Indonesia delays port ban to give exporters time to adjust
Indonesia has pushed back the ban on receiving fresh fruit imports at the country's largest Jakarta port for another three months, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
The ban was to have started on Mar. 19 but the Indonesian government said the delay would give the the industry time to prepare for change.
Indonesia said it was closing Jakarta and nine other ports to fresh produce because it wants tougher food safety standards and quarantine inspections, and those ports don't have the facilities to do that.
The decision has created great uncertainty for exporters from countries such as Australia, China and the U.S.
Once the ban comes into effect, the closest port to Jakarta will be Surabaya which is a three-day road journey away.
Related stories: Delay expected for Port of Jakarta fruit import closure
U.S. puts pressure on Indonesia over Jakarta port closure plans