Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian rice field eels from South Kalimantan have gained access to the Chinese market after Beijing recognized Indonesia's fisheries certification system, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries announced on Wednesday.Ishartini, head of the Marine and Fisheries Product Quality Control and Supervision Agency, said the rice field eels (Monopterus albus) met China's import requirements through Indonesia's Processing Feasibility Certificate (SKP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification.”The products are accepted by China because its competent authority, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), has recognized the fisheries quality certification scheme administered by the ministry,” Ishartini said in a statement issued in Jakarta.She noted that the recognition stems from a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between the Indonesian ministry and GACC. Under the agreement, Indonesia's quality assurance framework—including SKP and HACCP certifications—is recognized as equivalent to China's standards.According to Ishartini, South Kalimantan's rice field eels satisfy strict processing rules by applying sanitation, hygiene, and food safety measures across the entire production chain.The commodity has steadily expanded its global footprint. In 2025, Indonesia exported 170 metric tons of live and frozen rice field eels valued at 3.5 billion rupiah. The shipments were supplied by two fish processing facilities certified under the ministry's HACCP program and registered with GACC.Yuni Irawati Wijaya, head of the Banjarbaru Fisheries Quality Control Center, said her office maintains strict oversight through regular inspections, surveillance, and laboratory testing.”Rice field eel certification complies with international standards, and the same approach applies to other commodities. We are ready to assist businesses seeking to export rice field eels or other fisheries products,” Wijaya said.China remains one of the largest market destinations for Indonesian seafood. Ministry data shows Indonesia exported 491,528 metric tons of fisheries products to China in 2025, valued at $1.04 billion (approximately 17.46 trillion rupiah).Major commodities included squid, seaweed, hairtail, Pacific white shrimp, cuttlefish, and skipjack tuna.