Consumer protection cannot be seen as a mere add-on but must serve as\nthe primary foundation for building sustainable SMEs.<\/p>\n
Jakarta (ANTARA) - In 2024, the number of culinary businesses in\nIndonesia reached 5.28 million units, an increase of 8.71 per cent\ncompared to 2023 (Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, 2024).<\/p>\n
This growth indicates that culinary and processed food SMEs are\nincreasingly integrated into the daily lives of the public. From\nbreakfast to late-night snacks, SME products are present in nearly every\nconsumption activity.<\/p>\n
Behind this encouraging vibrancy lies a fundamental issue that is\noften overlooked: low awareness of product standards and quality. Many\nbusiness operators still view quality as an additional cost burden\nrather than a long-term investment. As a result, products on the market\nare more focused on low prices without fully guaranteeing safety aspects\nfor consumers who consume them daily.<\/p>\n
In the field, we still encounter practices that should no longer\noccur. Counterfeit processed food products, the use of unfit raw\nmaterials, and even cases of health disruptions arising from consuming\nfood that does not meet standards.<\/p>\n
This phenomenon is not just an occasional incident but a reflection\nthat a quality culture has not yet taken root. When business operators\nignore standards, what is at stake is not only the business\u2019s reputation\nbut also public health.<\/p>\n
At this point, consumer protection cannot be regarded as a complement\nbut must become the main pillar in building sustainable SMEs.<\/p>\n
Another equally important issue is the matter of information\ntransparency. Many SME products are still circulated without adequate\nlabelling, without explanations of composition, and even without clear\nnutritional information.<\/p>\n
Consumers ultimately purchase in a state of \u201cnot knowing,\u201d even\nthough they have the right to honest and open information. Law No.\u00a08 of\n1999 has affirmed this, but implementation is still far from\nexpectations. When information is not conveyed completely, the\nrelationship between producers and consumers becomes unbalanced, and\ntrust slowly erodes.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, this issue cannot be separated from policies that\nare not yet fully interconnected. Efforts to maintain food security\noften proceed independently without strong coordination between\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
As a result, there are gaps in supervision that allow substandard\nproducts to still circulate in the market. In fact, instruments such as\nP-IRT and MD licences already exist to ensure product safety. When this\nsystem does not operate optimally, consumer protection becomes\nsuboptimal and potentially creates broader risks.<\/p>\n
If this situation is allowed to continue, SMEs will be trapped in an\nunhealthy competition pattern: cheap, fast, but ignoring quality. In the\nshort term, it may appear profitable, but in the long term, it is\ndetrimental. Consumer trust can be lost, and once that happens, it will\nbe difficult to regain.<\/p>\n
Therefore, a change in mindset is essential. SMEs cannot just\nsurvive; they must start moving towards better quality and building\nstrong trust.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/time-for-smes-to-level-up-or-risk-losing-consumers-1777380711", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }