Ministry probing products sold on local market

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has begun investigating products being sold on the local market to ensure they meet the standards set by the government.

The move is part of the government effort to protect consumers against unscrupulous traders.

"The investigation started a month ago. We want to ensure the quality of both imported and locally made products is in accordance with government standards," Ardiansyah S. Parman, director general for domestic trade at the ministry, said on Tuesday.

The government has set standards for all products sold on the local market, including labeling, marketing, advertising and after-sales service.

In terms of labeling, for example, producers and traders are required to attach a label to the product containing its name, its specifications, volume and the identity of the producer or importer.

Last month, Minister of Trade and Industry Rini M. Soewandi issued a decree ordering all producers and traders to meet all government standards. She also established an investigative team to purchase products at shops and in markets to check their quality.

The decree is included among the regulations passed to implement Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection, which seeks to protect consumers from dishonest producers and traders.

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

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

Violators face up to five years in jail or a maximum fine of Rp 2 billion (US$200,000), in addition to the revocation of their business permits.

Ardiansyah said the team had purchased several products, including wheat flour, electronic goods, tire casings and energy- efficient lamps, from several markets in Jakarta for investigation.

Concerning the wheat flour, Ardiansyah said the investigation of the product followed a complaint from the Indonesian Wheat and Flour Producers Association (Aptindo), which claimed some traders were selling unlabeled wheat flour that was imported.

Aptindo has often accused wheat flour producers from Europe, Australia and the United Arab Emirates of dumping their products here, and has called on the government to impose antidumping duties on them.

Local flour producers include PT Bogasari Flour Mills, PT Sriboga Raya, PT Pangan Mas and PT Berdikari.