Ban slapped on processed U.S. beef<\/p>\n
Fitri Wulandari and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has banned the import of processed beef products
\nfrom the United States indefinitely and instructed importers to
\nwithdraw the commodity from market shelves immediately to prevent
\nmad cow disease from spreading to local cattle here.<\/p>\n
The Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) also warned that it
\nwould not hesitate to take stern legal actions against importers
\nor traders, including supermarkets or other retail stores, if
\nthey fail to comply with the ruling.<\/p>\n
\"We have asked the customs and excise office to prevent the
\nimport of processed beef products from the U.S. indefinitely,
\nstarting today,\" BPOM chief Sampurno said here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"We will take legal measures against those who defy the
\norder,\" he said, adding that he was confident that importers,
\ndistributors and retail stores would abide by the ban.<\/p>\n
Indonesia imports US$9 million of fresh U.S. beef annually and
\nprocessed beef products worth $62 million annually. Processed
\nbeef products include canned beef and other preserved foods and
\ndrinks such as sausage, milk and cheese.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also imports beef and processed beef products from
\nAustralia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
The decision to ban the import of processed beef products was
\ntaken following the finding of a mad cow case in the United
\nStates two weeks ago. The government banned the import of fresh
\nbeef from the U.S. on Thursday.<\/p>\n
According to Sampurno, the last direct import of U.S.
\nprocessed beef products -- some 440 kilograms of beef powder --
\nwas on Sept. 23, 2003. Sampurno declined to reveal the importer's
\nname, saying only that beef powder was one of the main
\ningredients of some sausage and burger patties.<\/p>\n
Sampurno said BPOM would conduct field observations on U.S.
\nbeef and processed beef products starting next week.<\/p>\n
\"It is possible that U.S. beef and processed beef products
\nwere imported through a third country. Consumers can easily work
\nout the country of origin from the product label,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sampurno said BPOM has been working closely with the
\nagriculture ministry and local farming offices to monitor the
\nentry of U.S. beef and processed beef products into the market.<\/p>\n
A British laboratory said on Thursday that a Holstein cow in
\nthe U.S. state of Washington was found to have bovine spongiform
\nencephalophaty (BSE), which eats away brain tissue, causing
\nmadness and death in cows. However, BSE has not been shown to
\naffect humans directly.<\/p>\n
Thomas Darmawan, chairman of Indonesian Association of Food
\nand Beverages Producers (GAPMMI), urged the government to be
\ncareful in banning the import of U.S. beef and beef products.<\/p>\n
\"It will not only affect retailers and distributors but also
\nother industries that use cow products such as cow skin, milk and
\nother products that we have to import,\" Thomas told The Jakarta
\nPost on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Melanie Dharmosetio, senior marketing manager of supermarket-
\nchain PT Lion Super Indo, hailed the ban but urged the government
\nto provide adequate information about BSE for the public.<\/p>\n
\"If we have clear information, we will be able to make a
\ndecision fast. But we will abide by the government order,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Lion Super Indo operates the Super Indo supermarket, which has
\n27 outlets in Jakarta and eight others in Bandung, Yogyakarta and
\nPalembang.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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