The government is considering adding more categories of products, as well as extending existing categories, to a revision of a 2008 Trade Ministry regulation on imports of particular products in a bid to protect the domestic market.
Deputy Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar said Tuesday that the Coordinating Economic Ministry was discussing such possibilities.
“We are considering the inclusion of herbal medicines and cosmetics [in the revision],” he told a press conference.
“It is part of our strategy to secure the domestic market and protect consumers”.
The existing regulation, which came into effect on Jan. 1, 2009, controls imports of garments, footwear, food and beverages, electronics and children’s toys to protect the domestic market from smuggled goods.
Imports of those goods may only enter the country through five designated ports and one international airport, according to the regulation.
The five ports are Belawan in Medan, Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Mas in Semarang, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, and Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar, South Sulawesi
For food and beverage products, the Dumai Port in Riau is also available.
Imports of these designated products through any other ports will be declared illegal.
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