Govt to ban poor quality wheat flour products
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four brands had been recommended to be withdrawn from the market.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.