YLKI warns of contaminated meat<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has warned the public
\nof the possibility of foot and mouth disease (FMD) as well as
\nmad-cow disease outbreak as illegal importation of meat products
\nremains rampant.<\/p>\n
YLKI chairwoman Indah Sukmaningsih said a recent YLKI survey
\ncarried out in several traditional markets, including Ciledug
\nmarket and Jombang market, both in the Banten municipality of
\nTangerang, discovered there were illegally imported meat products
\nsold at low prices.<\/p>\n
\"One of the indicators that the meat products were imported
\nillegally was their low price at around Rp 21,000 (US$2.33) per
\nkilogram (kg), far below the market price of between Rp 36,000
\nand Rp 38,000 per kg for local meat products,\" said Indah.<\/p>\n
The normal price for imported meat products is far above Rp
\n38,000 per kg.<\/p>\n
Another indicator was the fake packaging on those products.<\/p>\n
\"It is written on the products' cartons that they were
\nimported from a meat producer in New Zealand. Yet, when we cross-
\nchecked with the New Zealand Embassy here, they said they didn't
\nrecognize the producer,\" Indah said.<\/p>\n
FMD, a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and
\nswine, can also affect sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hooved
\nruminants.<\/p>\n
Mad-cow disease, also known as Bovine Spongiform
\nEncephalophathy (BSE), can spread in a form of already infected
\nbeef or cattle. It is fatal and is thus far not curable.<\/p>\n
The latest BSE scare hit the country last November.<\/p>\n
Indah suspected the illegal meat products came from India,
\nBrazil and Argentina, but could not provide solid proof.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Agriculture last year issued the decree No.
\n150\/TN.530\/A\/VI\/2003 that bans importation of meat products from
\ncountries with FMD, including India, Brazil and Argentina.<\/p>\n
\"To date, the decree hasn't been revoked. Therefore, any
\nimport of meat products from the three countries is considered
\nillegal,\" said Indah.<\/p>\n
She suspected that illegal meat products were smuggled into
\nIndonesia using false documents, which fooled the customs and
\nexcise officers or fake repackaging as if they came New Zealand
\nor Australia, countries exempted by the ministerial decree.<\/p>\n
\"I urge the government to take action to stop the rampant
\nillegal importation,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture cooperate with
\nthe Ministry of Industry and Trade and the customs and excise
\noffice to curb all smuggling.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Cattle and Buffalo Farmer Association chairman
\nRochadi Tawaf agreed with Indah, saying it was high time for the
\ngovernment to take action as the volume of illegally imported
\nmeat products had increased to an alarming level.<\/p>\n
Rochadi, however, could not provide the exact figures of the
\nvolume of illegally imported meat products.<\/p>\n
He quoted the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry, which
\nsaid hundreds of tons of meat products on the market were
\nillegally imported.<\/p>\n
YLKI survey also found meat products imported from the United
\nStates were sold at some supermarkets despite the government ban.
\nThe foundation refused to identify the supermarkets.<\/p>\n
\"It only shows that the government does not supervise the
\nimplementation of the regulation.\" said Indah.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ylki-warns-of-contaminated-meat-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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