Jakarta to control agricultural produce

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta

The Jakarta administration will beef up controls over the quality and quantity of agricultural products entering markets in the capital through a new bylaw.

All 11 factions in the City Council agreed on Wednesday to pass a new bylaw on the control of agricultural products entering the city's markets. The bylaw will take effect in one month.

The bylaw will require everyone involved in the business -- suppliers, distributors and retailers -- to tag the products with documents identifying their point of origin and certificates guaranteeing the health and quality of the products.

The bylaw also gives the Jakarta Forestry and Agricultural Agency the power to check the validity of the documents.

If the products are not accompanied by valid documents, the administration will have the authority to block them from entering the markets or to withdraw the products from the markets.

"We hope the bylaw can help protect consumers by ensuring that the products they consume are good, safe and contain no hazardous substances," Governor Sutiyoso said.

He said stricter requirements on the supply of agricultural products would also increase the competition among suppliers from outside the capital.

"Gradually, we will be able to reduce imports of agricultural products because the bylaw will force local farmers to provide the high quality and safe products we demand," he said.

The bylaw also stipulates that the Jakarta governor will have the authority to issue operating permits for everyone involved in the import of agricultural products.

The operation permits will be valid for five years but the governor can revoke them at anytime if the enterprise concerned fails to meet all necessary requirements, is dormant for three consecutive months and/or violates regulations.

Companies or individuals who violate the bylaw could face a maximum prison sentence of six months or a Rp 5 million (about US$562) fine.

Achmad Heryawan of the council's Commission E on welfare welcomed the bylaw, saying Jakarta consumers were currently at risk of being sold unsafe vegetables and fruits contaminated by pesticides.

"That is the result of farmers spraying pesticides at least twice a day to ensure their crops are free of pests and weak control by officials," Achmad said.

He warned that the city officers who supervise the quality and safety of the products must be professional and not accept bribes to pass poor quality and dangerous products.

The bylaw also stipulates the establishment of a Quality Control Institution that will include representatives of businesspeople, residents and the administration.

Forestry and agricultural agency head Peni Susanti said the institution would be established by 2006 at the latest.

"We need time gradually to introduce the new bylaw to the public," Peni said.