Natuna Food Task Force Inspects SPHP Rice Retailers to Prevent Adulteration

Natuna (ANTARA) - The Natuna Regency Food Task Force in the Riau Islands inspected Rumah Pangan Kita (RPK) outlets selling SPHP rice to prevent adulteration and ensure the rice is distributed in accordance with regulations.

Pencius Siburian, head of the Natuna branch of state-owned logistics company Perum Bulog, said in Natuna on Friday that the inspection followed reports of suspected adulteration in another area, where Stabilisation of Food Supplies and Prices (SPHP) rice had been repackaged and sold as premium rice. The inspection took place on Friday at Ranai People’s Market.

SPHP is a medium-quality rice programme run by the Indonesian government and distributed through Perum Bulog. It is supplied even to border areas to maintain availability, control inflation and give the public access to quality rice at affordable prices.

“Following that incident in another area, we went directly to the Natuna branch’s area of operation to inspect and take further action if any signs of fraud were found,” he said.

He said the task force found one RPK outlet selling SPHP rice by the kilogram, although regulations require it to be sold only in intact five-kilogram packs.

The trader said the rice packaging had been opened to serve customers who needed smaller quantities, rather than to adulterate the rice, he said.

“Under the rules, that is not allowed. We will issue a warning letter. From the information we have received, they opened the packs to sell the rice by weight, not to repackage it,” he said.

He stressed that SPHP rice packaging must not be opened, and that the rice may not be sold loose or repackaged. Bulog nevertheless understands that some people cannot afford to buy rice in five-kilogram packs.

To meet that need, Pencius said Bulog had already made SPHP rice available in smaller, two-kilogram packs. However, they have not yet been supplied to Natuna.