Bottlers warned over poor quality

Bottlers warned over poor quality

JAKARTA (JP): The government warned Saturday it would revoke the business license of companies producing packaged drinking water which fail to meet the national industrial standards.

"Out of the 172 companies producing package drinking water in the country, 85 have failed to meet the government's requirements on industrial standardization," Director General of Agro-based Industries Anang Lukmana said in a ceremony for the inauguration of a water packaging plant in Sukabumi, West Java.

Anang, as quoted by Antara, said that the government's strict measure against producers of inferior packaged water is important as it protects consumers and the interest of the country, which also exports the product.

"About 10 percent of the 85 companies have reportedly exported their product," he said.

Anang said Indonesia's exports of packaged drinking water last year reached US$8.7 million.(riz)