Govt to ban poor quality wheat flour products

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will withdraw four brands of imported wheat flour from the local market as each failed to meet government standards, a top official said.

"Ibu Rini Soewandi (Minister of Industry and Trade) has approved our proposal to withdraw the four brands from the market," Erni Rifana, director general for domestic trade at the ministry told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

She said that the four brands, including Kuda and Kokaburu, did not carry labels issued by the national standardization agency of Indonesia (SNI). She could not name the two other brands.

"The four brands which are mostly sold in traditional markets in Palembang province did not meet the SNI standard," Erni said.

Asked whether the government would also revoke the license of the importers, Erni said it would be decided by the directorate general of foreign trade affairs.

Erni said her office will soon report the decision to the governor of Palembang.

Her office had been conducting an investigation into 11 brands of imported wheat products from India, Australia, China and Malaysia following complaints from consumers. But so far, only four brands had been recommended to be withdrawn from the market.

The team had been carrying out investigations in a laboratory to ensure that the contents of the products were in line with the government standard.

It said that the products did not contain healthy nutrient requirements such as zinc and other vitamins.

The ministry had previously issued a decree supervising products sold at local markets. The move was part of efforts to implement Law No.8/1999 on consumer protection.

Under Article 8 of the consumer protection law, producers and traders are banned from producing and marketing products and services that do not meet the standard set by the government.

Producers and traders also are forbidden from deceiving consumers by falsifying the quality of their products.

The move was also aimed at curbing the massive influx of smuggled products into the country.