Food bill targets firms neglecting safety rules
JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday submitted to the House of Representatives a food bill which includes the imposition of penalties of up to Rp 500 million (US$217,391) against companies neglecting food-safety regulations.
State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan said in a plenary session of the House of Representatives here that the bill will also regulate food labeling and advertising, both of which are considered important aspects of the food trade.
The bill will be debated by the House before it is passed into law.
Ibrahim said labeling and advertising must be clear, easy to read and understand, and should not contain misleading information.
"Food labels must also contain specific information if targeted at a specific market," he said.
Ibrahim added that foodstuff containing pork, either imported or locally-produced, must be specially labeled, while packages containing other types of meat must have the halal label, which indicates that they can be consumed by Moslems.
"These labels are important not only because they give Moslems a sense of security but also because they are needed to penetrate the growing markets in Moslem countries," he said.
Ibrahim acknowledged that food regulations, prepared in line with the principles of the World Trade Organization, are necessary to boost the competitiveness of Indonesia's products on the world market.
He said that most countries, including neighboring states in Southeast Asia, already have such regulations.
"Indonesia is the only country without a food law in the region," he said.
Ibrahim said that without a regulation controlling food hygiene and sanitation, food labeling, the application of food additives and the tolerable amount of pesticide residue, Indonesia's food exports will not have a good image on the international market.
Foodstuffs from Indonesia, he said, will continue to be rejected in certain countries that apply strict regulations, such as the United States, the European Union and Japan.
"1994 figures show that the United States alone has rejected around US$100 million worth of foodstuffs imported from Indonesia," Ibrahim said.
Inspection
He explained that the proposed food bill will also regulate food safety and food inspection, to cope with afflictions caused by contaminated foodstuffs.
Indonesia currently has very loose regulations which often enable ill-disciplined food producers and distributors to cover up expiry dates or list inaccurate ingredients.
As a result, many cases of food poisoning have been reported over the last few years.
Ibrahim said the proposed bill would impose penalties of up to Rp 500 million on food processing companies that are found guilty of neglecting such food safety regulations.
The Ministry of Health recorded 321 cases of food poisoning in 1986, and 12 deaths. In 1987, 433 were reported ill and in 1988, the figure increased to 1,439. The following year, 2,477 people were reported ill. (pwn)