Garlic Distribution Must Be Safeguarded: MSMEs Seek Business Certainty
The smooth distribution of food commodities is considered a critical factor in maintaining national food security. Business actors and food distributors are hoping for legal certainty so that trading activities can proceed normally and the supply of goods needed by the public is maintained.
This hope was expressed by MSME CV Berkah Bawang Bali, which claims to have experienced business disruption due to a legal process that has halted garlic trading activities in recent months. The company is requesting legal certainty so that food commodity distribution can resume.
CV Berkah Bawang Bali’s legal counsel, Nugraha Bratakusumah, stated that his team had submitted a request for legal protection to Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI). However, six days after the complaint letter was submitted, they had not yet received a response or a follow-up. “There has been no follow-up or response from Commission III as of now,” Nugraha said on Wednesday (10/6/2026).
According to Nugraha, the halt in business activities impacts not only the company but also workers and the garlic distribution chain that has been serving customers in Bali. He noted that trading activities that have stopped for a long period cause customers to switch to other suppliers, while a number of workers lose the opportunity to work. “As a result, the employees, the Balinese labourers, still cannot work. The buyers have disappeared, switching to others because it has been closed for so long,” he stated.
He also highlighted the risk of spoilage for food commodities stored for a prolonged duration. Garlic, he said, is a product with a quality shelf life that requires fast and proper handling. “Ultimately, inside the shop and in the vehicle, there will definitely be garlic that has rotted by now. Legally, this should be auctioned off by the court and the proceeds seized, but the goods have not been auctioned,” he added.
The case originated from the seizure of approximately 400 bales of garlic and the sealing of CV Berkah Bawang Bali’s business premises by Unit IV, Sub-directorate I of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Bali Regional Police since April.
Nugraha assessed that the business continuity of food distribution players needs attention, as they are part of the supply chain supporting the availability of foodstuffs for the public. He therefore hopes for legal certainty in the ongoing case. In addition to awaiting a response from House Commission III, the legal team is also preparing further steps, including reporting the matter to police oversight bodies and filing a pre-trial motion.