Rahardi says rehash consumer rights bill

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Monday that the government could technically accept the draft law on consumers' rights proposed by the House of Representatives, but he called for some changes in its contents and format to make it acceptable to the public.

"The bill is in tune with the government's view that the country needs to have a law which protects consumers. However, the bill still needs some adjustments," Rahardi said during a House of Representatives' plenary session.

Rahardi said the bill had some points that overlapped with other laws.

"For instance, the bill also mentions environmental protection. The chapter regarding this can be dropped due to the fact the issue is addressed in the Environmental Law," Rahardi was quoted by Antara as saying.

He also said the bill had some chapters which could be combined to make it simpler and more concise.

Rahardi proposed that chapters on unlawful actions be combined in one chapter which forbids entrepreneurs to produce and trade in damaged and contaminated products or promote and advertise them.

Commenting on class action against unruly producers which would be possible if the bill is passed into law, Rahardi said: "In our opinion, there has to be a regulation for that and it has to be conducted under a better procedure, so that consumers can channel their aspirations in the proper way."

The bill also calls for the establishment of an agency, the Coordinating Body for Consumer Protection, which would watch over the implementation of the law and determine national standards for product quality.

Rahardi noted the functions of the body would overlap with those of the government.

"Therefore, we have to be careful in the plan of establishing the body. The establishment of the body would only add more complexities to the existing bureaucracy," Rahardi said.

However, Rahardi supported the bill's demand for the formation of a special body which would help settle disputes between consumers and producers.

"The body should also be given the right to settle disputes out of court," Rahardi said.

But, Rahardi said, the government should retain the right to coordinate the efforts of protecting consumers against unruly producers.

Analysts have voiced appreciation of the House's initiative in proposing the law given the fact that most of the country's laws were made on the initiative of the government. (jsk)