Manual in bahasa a must for electronic goods

JAKARTA (JP): All electronics products sold in Indonesia must be accompanied by manuals and guarantee cards written in the Indonesian language, according to a new decree issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The ministry said on Thursday the new regulation required electronics manufacturers to provide manuals containing complete information about the product's use, maintenance and specifications.

The new regulation also requires electronics manufacturers to provide at least a one year guarantee for their products, the guarantee card of which must clearly state that no charge will be imposed for maintenance during the period.

"Violators of the regulations will face revocation of their Industrial License (IUI) or Industrial Registration Notice (TDI), Importer Registration Number (API) or Exporter all together," the ministry said.

The ministry said non-government organizations would be involved in the monitoring of the regulation together with a special team made up of officials from the police force, the district attorney's office, the directorate of customs and excise, the directorate of tax, the directorate of metal, machinery and various products as well as the directorate of domestic trade.

The ministry said both the manual booklets and guarantee cards must be registered with the Directorate General of Metal, Machineries, Electronics and Various Industries and the Directorate General of Domestic Trade.

Manuals and guarantee cards which undergo changes in content information must be reregistered with the two directorates.

The ministry added that only registered and licensed producers and importers could register the manuals and guarantee cards with the directorates.

The ministry said complete manuals and guarantee cards in bahasa were very important to enable Indonesian customers to better use the products.

It added that the new decree was also part of the government's campaign to reduce the distribution of smuggled products, which come with manuals, but not in bahasa, into the Indonesian market.

In order to reduce the smuggling of electronic goods into the country, the government has also required that all imported electronic goods be checked by customs officers, apply the Indonesian standardized measure (SNI) for certain electronics products and restructure the regulation on luxury tax.

The decree comes into effect in February 2000. (cst)