NTB DPRD: Temporary Closure of Hundreds of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units for Food Safety

Mataram (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial DPRD, Lalu Wirajaya, stated that the temporary closure of 302 Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) by the National Nutrition Agency is to ensure that the food served in the Free Nutritious Meals programme is hygienic and safe for consumption. “I believe the policy taken by the BGN is very appropriate to ensure and guarantee the safety of the MBG programme,” said Lalu Wirajaya in Mataram on Sunday. He explained that the closure of hundreds of SPPG is due to the absence of Sanitation Hygiene Certificates (SLHS) and Wastewater Treatment Installations (IPAL), which is a correct step. This is because SLHS and IPAL are important requirements that must be met by SPPG as they relate to the hygiene of the distributed food and the sanitation of the environment around the SPPG kitchens. “These kitchens have been suspended because they do not meet eligibility standards, particularly sanitation issues, poor waste management (IPAL), and the lack of Sanitation Hygiene Certificates (SLHS) that guarantee food safety,” said the politician from the Central Lombok electoral district. Previously, 302 SPPG or MBG kitchens in various regions of NTB, such as West Lombok, Central Lombok, East Lombok, Bima, Dompu, and Mataram, were temporarily halted by the BGN. “Yes, this is a consequence that must be accepted by the SPPG, so it is hoped that with this suspension, the SPPG can immediately make improvements to resume operations,” said Lalu Wirajaya. This policy is a firm action by the central government, in this case the BGN, to ensure that food safety standards are maintained across all SPPG partnered in the Free Nutritious Meals programme in NTB. “So, once again, the policy taken by the BGN is very appropriate to ensure that food safety standards are maintained across all SPPG,” he said. Meanwhile, Chairman of the NTB Provincial MBG Task Force, Fathul Gani, emphasised that the closure of SPPG is a preventive effort to guarantee food security and protect public health. “The main key at this time lies in accelerating and ensuring the accuracy of processing Healthy House/Installation Certificates and Sanitation Compliance Certificates (SRIS/SLS),” he said. For this reason, he requested that the NTB Health Office immediately instruct its districts/cities to avoid delays, especially if all procedures have met operational standards. “There should be no more delays if everything is in accordance with SOP. Delays could potentially cause legal problems,” said Fathul Gani.