Clove monopoly enhanced

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo has issued a ruling to strengthen the clove trading monopoly of the privately-run Clove Stock Management Agency (BPPC).

In Ministerial Decree No. 313/MPP/Kep/9/1997, dated Sept. 9, Tunky said only BPPC could trade or transport cloves via land, sea and air.

The agency's chairman, President Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra, was granted the clove-trading monopoly in early 1991.

Since then, farmers have been obliged to sell their cloves to the agency -- through village cooperatives -- and producers of clove-blended cigarettes must buy their supply from BPPC.

According to the new ruling, as reported by Antara, all clove transportation within a province must have the appropriate documentation issued by the provincial industry and trade office.

Interprovincial transportation of cloves to cigarette manufacturers also requires the correct paperwork.

The new ruling also appointed state-owned surveying firm PT Sucofindo to test the quality of cloves transported to cigarette manufacturers.

Sucofindo is also authorized to check the quality of imported cloves. (rid)