DKI Jakarta provincial government's cattle import policy from Australia deemed inappropriate
Jakarta — A member of the Jakarta Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) has criticised the DKI Jakarta provincial government’s policy of importing cattle from Australia as inappropriate.
According to August Hamonangan, Indonesia’s legislation clearly stipulates that food reserves must be sourced from domestic production. “This step by the provincial government is astonishing. When the law explicitly requires that the provincial government obtain its food reserves from within the country, DKI instead conducts imports,” August said in Jakarta on Friday, regarding the provincial government’s decision to import 3,100 head of cattle from Australia.
He contended that the DKI Jakarta policy contradicts the spirit of food sovereignty as stipulated in Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food, specifically Article 29, Section (2), which states that provincial food reserves must be sourced from domestic production.
Furthermore, August noted that the scale of cattle imports from Australia is substantial, reaching more than 3,000 head, with a quota extending to 7,500 head. “So what has arrived is only a portion. Why not seek cattle from within the country first?” asked August, who is also a member of Commission C of the provincial assembly.
August also highlighted that the DKI Jakarta Provincial Legislative Assembly is currently discussing a draft regional regulation on food system implementation, which is an initiative of the DKI Jakarta provincial government. He urged that the regulation be drafted in harmony with the higher-level law, including provisions requiring the provincial government to obtain its food reserves from domestic sources.
“We are discussing a very important regional regulation in the provincial assembly. This draft regulation on food system implementation must guarantee our ability to meet the food needs of our residents, including by asking the DKI Jakarta provincial government to seek sustainable food sources from within the country,” August stated.