An Indonesian meat distributor is importing Japanese "wagyu" beef, long banned in the Southeast Asian country, in cooperation with the Japan External Trade Organization to test the local market dominated by the same breed from Australia.

Johana Koswara, managing director of PT. Global Pratama Wijaya, said her company has imported more than 1.2 tons of "Omi Hime Wagyu" from western Japan as initial shipments during a six-month trial period from July to December this year. Indonesia lifted an import ban on Japanese beef last year.

"We hope we can double the current achievement in the second trial period that is starting from January 2018," Johana said at an Omi Hime Wagyu launch event in Jakarta last week.

Global Pratama Wijaya, which used to focus on wagyu of Australian-bred beef cattle, has begun importing Japanese wagyu as well, counting on its growth potential.

"Now we are supplying Omi Hime Wagyu to 10 restaurants in Jakarta. Currently we focus on Jakarta and Bali first because the highest demand comes from those two provinces," Johana said, although the beef has yet to be supplied to Bali due to the eruptions of Mt. Agung.

Johana said Omi Hime Wagyu has been certified as halal, or fitting consumption by Muslims under Islamic law, by the Indonesian Ulema Council, with every process of slaughter overseen by the council, better known as MUI.

"I directly looked at their farms in Shiga Prefecture in the Kansai (western Japan) region," Johana said. "I saw how they treated their cows and also how they maintain the cleanliness of farms. That's what has made us sure to import Omi beef." (NNA/Kyodo)