Retailers seek permission to sell banned groceries

JAKARTA (JP): Retailers said they would comply with the Food and Drug Control Agency's (BPOM) order to remove 356 allegedly illegally imported food products from store shelves, but in turn demanded that the government speed up its licensing procedure for the products.

Executive director of the Association of Indonesian Retailers (Aprindo) Kustarjono Prodjolalito insisted that the group puts a high priority on the interests of consumers and would adhere to existing regulations.

But Kustarjono also said the agency should also work more closely with the retailers' association. He lamented that the agency went public with its ban on the grocery items before consulting retailers.

"We don't mind pulling these items off the shelves even though it will result in price increases due to the scarcity of these items," he said recently.

According to Kustarjono, imported groceries account for about 20 percent of the Rp 5 trillion in sales recorded by the retailers' association.

The agency had previously instructed stores to stop the sale of 356 imported grocery items which were allegedly imported illegally as they had not obtained a distribution license from the agency.

Kustarjono said the association's members would not knowingly sell smuggled or illegally imported merchandise at their stores.

He contended that the issue at hand was not a matter of smuggling but the licensing procedure.

"The food is free of germs and is not hazardous. The food is also legally imported but has yet to be formally registered with the agency," he argued.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Edible Oil Producers (AIMMI), Mario Waas, further contended that many of the items which had been banned were registered with the agency, however, the official license had yet to be issued.

"We are still waiting although normally it takes only 21 days for its issuance after we apply," he said, shifting the blame to the agency's delay in issuing the license.

As a compromise both Mario and Kustarjono suggested the agency soften its ban.

"Let the products be sold and issue the license," Kustarjono said.

"Besides, does the agency get penalized for being overdue in completing its licensing procedure?" he said.

Separately, the head of the agency, Sampurno, said he understood the retailers and importers' arguments but stressed that "the agency is strictly basing its consideration as required by Law No. 23/1992".

The law clearly stipulates that imported drugs, food and beverages must pass examination or receive a license from the agency before they are distributed to the public.

The agency and the associations will meet again this week to further discuss the controversy. (emf)