Retailers seek permission to sell banned groceries
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)