BULOG Educates Public on Rice Quality Standards to Ensure Accurate Information
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Perum BULOG is strengthening public education regarding rice quality standards so that consumers can accurately differentiate between premium and medium-grade rice. This step also emphasises that rice categories are not solely determined by whiteness, shine, brand, or packaging claims, but are based on quality parameters established by the government.
The President Director of Perum BULOG, Lieutenant General TNI (Ret.) Dr Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, stated that understanding rice quality is essential for the public to obtain products that match the information on labels and the prices paid.
“Premium rice is not merely rice that looks white, clean, or shiny. The determination of quality class must refer to measurable and testable parameters. Through this education, we want to help the public become more discerning consumers while ensuring that the quality of the rice purchased matches its class and price,” said Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani.
Based on the National Food Agency Regulation Number 2 of 2023 concerning Rice Quality Requirements and Labelling, distributed rice must meet specified criteria including milling degree, moisture content, broken grains, small grains (menir), other rice grains, and paddy grains. This regulation categorises rice into premium and medium grades.
For the premium category, quality requirements include a minimum milling degree of 95 per cent, a maximum moisture content of 14 per cent, maximum broken grains of 15 per cent, and the absence of paddy grains or foreign matter. For medium-grade rice, while the milling degree and moisture content requirements are similar, there is a higher tolerance for broken grains (up to 25 per cent) and small grains (up to 2 per cent).
“The difference between premium and medium is primarily visible in the grain composition. Therefore, consumers need to examine the rice thoroughly, read packaging information, ensure product labels are clear, and purchase from trusted traders or distribution channels,” he continued.
This educational effort is also part of consumer protection to ensure alignment between quality, labelling, and the Maximum Retail Price (HET) set by the government. Under current HET regulations, prices are determined by distribution zones. In Zone 1 (covering Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi), the HET for medium rice is Rp13,500 per kilogram and premium rice is Rp14,900 per kilogram. In Zone 2 (covering Sumatra excluding Lampung and South Sumatra, Kalimantan, and East Nusa Tenggara), the HET is Rp14,000 for medium and Rp15,400 for premium. In Zone 3 (covering Maluku and Papua), the HET is Rp15,500 for medium and Rp15,800 for premium.
BULOG believes that rice quality literacy must be continuously expanded through various communication channels so that the public does not rely solely on physical appearance. This aligns with public feedback for BULOG to play a role in providing simple understanding regarding national rice quality standards.
“With more open information, the public can compare products more objectively and receive quality commensurate with the price paid. Simultaneously, business actors who trade honestly and in accordance with regulations will also receive protection,” Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani asserted.
Moving forward, BULOG will continue to synergise with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food Agency, relevant agencies, local governments, and other stakeholders to strengthen rice quality supervision and education. These efforts are expected to maintain public trust, create transparent rice trade, and ensure consumers obtain food that is safe, high-quality, and compliant with government regulations.