BGN Suspends 1,789 SPPG Units Due to Unregistered SLHS and Lack of IPAL
Jakarta, VIVA – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has issued warnings to 2,100 Service Units for Nutrition Fulfilment (SPPG) and temporarily suspended some of them as a commitment to continuously improve the quality of services in the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).
Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, stated that this measure is part of oversight to ensure service standards are met.
“A total of 2,100 SPPG have been warned, while another 1,789 have had their operations temporarily suspended. Most suspensions were carried out because several SPPG have not registered for the Certificate of Hygiene and Sanitation Compliance (SLHS),” he said in Jakarta on Thursday.
In addition, there are SPPG that have registered but whose certificates have not been issued within one month; even for SPPG assessed to have good services, they can still be suspended if the SLHS has not been issued.
“The suspension is temporary until the document (SLHS) is issued. This data may evolve, as the SLHS could be issued in two to three days,” Dadan explained.
Besides the SLHS issue, another factor causing suspensions is the unavailability of Wastewater Treatment Installations (IPAL). BGN has requested SPPG without IPAL to build them first.
“The duration of the suspension depends on how quickly each unit fulfils the requirements, estimated to range from one to two weeks,” Dadan said.
He mentioned findings during Ramadan, where 62 SPPG produced menus that did not comply with regulations. This case was widely discussed on social media. BGN then temporarily halted operations of the related SPPG to allow improvements.
“The issuance of warnings and suspensions is part of coaching efforts. The temporary halt is not a permanent sanction, but rather to enable each SPPG to correct deficiencies before resuming operations,” he added.
The government has decided to provide MBG only on days when students attend school, and not on holidays.
This follows a cross-ministry/institution evaluation presented at a limited coordination meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs in Jakarta on Thursday.
“For improvements and effectiveness of implementation, previously (MBG) was given for 6 days, including holidays. That turned out to be less effective. Therefore, we have decided that MBG will be given on school days, (students) come for 5 days. On Eid holidays, providing MBG is also ineffective. So, no more (MBG distribution to students) on holidays, only on school days,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan.