Imported fruit not restricted: Minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah
\nsaid yesterday the government would not restrict fruit imports
\ndespite its regulation on maximum pesticide residue contents
\nallowed in fruit.<\/p>\n
He said the ruling, signed in August by Sjarifudin and
\nMinister of Health Sujudi, aimed to protect the public from
\npesticide residues in agricultural produce. This complies with
\nWorld Trade Organization principals.<\/p>\n
The rule initially applies to apples, mandarins, oranges,
\npears and grapes, he said, adding that other agricultural
\nproducts will covered by the rule in time.<\/p>\n
The United States and other countries have expressed concern
\nthat the rule might hamper fruit imports. The minister said
\nyesterday the ruling would apply to both imported and domestic
\nproduce.<\/p>\n
The rule lists 216 pesticides and their allowable maximum
\nlevels of toxicity in fruit. Government-appointed laboratories
\nare supposed to regularly analyze fruit samples.<\/p>\n
Indonesia imports apples, oranges, mandarins, pears, grapes,
\ndates, longans, lychees and durian. Imported fruit, once only
\nsold in supermarkets, has become available in traditional markets
\nsince the government's move to open up the domestic commodities
\nmarket in the late 1980s.<\/p>\n
Some critics say imported fruits contain high pesticide
\nlevels. A study by Trubus agriculture magazine and state-owned
\nsurveyor PT Sucofindo stated that up to 11 kinds of pesticide
\nresidue were found in imported fruit.<\/p>\n
Critics also claim that imported fruit is low grade and
\ntherefore cheaper.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Fruit Association (HPI) has reported there is
\nnot enough imported fruit entering the market to damage domestic
\nfruit production and marketing, despite recent media reports to
\nthe contrary.<\/p>\n
The association said although fruit imports had increased
\nsignificantly in the last five years, they are still
\ninsignificant compared to domestic production and consumption
\nlevels. The volume of fruit imports has increased 1,168 percent
\nin the last five years, and orange and mandarin imports has
\nincreased 936 percent.<\/p>\n
The association's chairman, Goeswono Soepardi, said recently
\nthat although the increase in fruit imports between 1991 and 1995
\nseemed hefty, only 112,787 tons of fruit were imported last year.<\/p>\n
By comparison, 5.8 million tons of fruit is produced
\ndomestically each year, while consumption is about 6.3 million
\ntons, Goeswono said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said the value of fruit
\nimports has increased sixfold in the last five years, from
\nUS$15.7 million in 1991 to $89.8 million last year, with an
\naverage growth of 50.8 percent a year. (02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/imported-fruit-not-restricted-minister-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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