Results Yet to Be Released, Amran Gives Update on Fortified Rice Lab Tests

Agriculture Minister and head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Amran Sulaiman has given an update on the laboratory test results for fortified rice, which was previously found not to meet standards.

Amran said the test results are still being awaited. When asked when the laboratory results would be announced, he did not give a specific date.

“Just pray. Wait,” Amran said when met at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Food in Jakarta on Monday (7/9/2026).

When asked again about the possibility of new findings or further developments from the fortified rice inspections, Amran asked the public to wait.

“Just wait for the invitation,” he said firmly.

Regarding plans to set a Highest Retail Price (HET) specifically for fortified rice, the government has yet to make a decision. He said the policy would still be studied.

“We will study it later,” he said.

Previously, Amran revealed that the results of inspections by four laboratories showed that more than 90% of the fortified rice examined did not meet standards.

He delivered the findings during a hearing with Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the Parliamentary Complex on Tuesday (1/9/2026).

“With your permission, ma’am, 90% of it is not correct (does not meet standards). Previously, this kind of thing was diverted from medium to premium rice. Now, thank God, that is fine. It turns out this behaviour has shifted to fortified rice with no vitamins in it, ma’am. There is none in it (the vitamin content),” Amran said during the hearing.

“We examined it using labs, several labs, four labs, and 90% have no vitamins, only the label says so. Now this is our task together with law enforcement, the Food Task Force,” he continued.

Bapanas also recorded that from its surveillance of fortified rice across Indonesia, 27 of the 28 brands inspected were declared Not Fulfilling Requirements (TMS). Only one brand was declared to meet the requirements.

The issue has drawn attention because the rice was marketed using a fortification label, but the vitamin content claimed was not found in laboratory tests.

“No (vitamin content), just the label. It is simply claimed. The brand says fortified but there is nothing inside. So, with your permission, ma’am, we will follow up on it,” Amran said firmly.

The findings also relate to a significant price difference. Bapanas recorded that the average price of fortified rice that failed to meet standards reached Rp23,385 per kg, while the comparison rice was at Rp13,689 per kg.

With a difference of around Rp9,695 per kg, Amran previously estimated that potential consumer losses could reach Rp89.19 trillion, assuming national rice consumption of 9.2 million tonnes per year.

“This is private sector. So this is actually private rice priced at Rp13,500–Rp14,000 per kg. Our premium is Rp14,900 (per kg). This is being sold at Rp40,000 (per kg) with the fortification label,” he explained.

Amran said Bapanas is still compiling a report based on the results of inspections by the four laboratories. At the time, he said the results from all four laboratories showed the same findings.

“(Currently) we are compiling the report. There are already results from the four labs that examined it. The results are the same. Those that do not meet standards, according to our provisions, are more than 90%,” Amran said after the meeting.

The inspection results will subsequently be consolidated with supporting data before being handed over to the Food Task Force for follow-up.

“Later, after consolidating everything properly and compiling the report properly, we will hand it over to the Food Task Force,” he concluded.