Supermarkets must withdraw illegally imported food

Supermarkets must withdraw illegally imported food

JAKARTA (JP): Supermarkets and stores on Wednesday were
instructed to halt the sale of 356 kinds of imported food
products from 25 different countries which had been sold without
clearance from the Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM).

The head of the Agency, Sampurno, said the 356 products had
not received certification from the agency as required by Law No.
23/1992.

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

"The 356 food products were imported illegally. We are
concerned consumers will not be protected in case the products
cause health problems," Sampurno told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday.

The imported food products include instant noodles, chocolate,
syrup, juices, canned mushrooms, soft drinks, corned beef,
biscuits, cooking oil, candy, jelly, sauces and wafers.

The restrictions are not targeted toward certain brands, as
products of the same brand could be imported from different
countries or may have also been produced here.

It may be the case that a particular product imported from a
one country is banned, but the same product imported from another
country which has received certification is allowed to be sold.

Among those in the list of 356 products are Tiger Beer,
Pringles (Cheese, Original, Pizza Potato, Potato 150g and 198g)
Cafe Noir Biscuits imported from Malaysia, Elle & Vire Extra
Light from Belgium, Schweppes (Dry Ginger, Bitter Lemon, Tonic
Water, Ginger Beer) and Quaker Instant imported from Australia.

Others included SW Seedless Grape Fruit, Betty Cracker,
Continental (Peanut Curry, Noodle Sauce, Black Curry), French's
American Mustard from the United States; Instant Natural Jelly
(white, red, yellow), Yolk (Nutrions, Coconut Milk) from China.

Sampurno however admitted that the agency had not received any
complaints from consumers concerning possible negative effects of
the illegally imported food.

"But we fear effects may occur several years later, for
example in such things as kidney problems," Sampurno added.

The public can examine whether a product has received
certification by inspecting its registration number which is
usually preceded by the codes MD or ML

According to Sampurno, consumers should also check the expiry
date of imported goods which is sometimes removed to hide the
fact that the goods are due to expire within the year.

Sampurno warned that stores have two weeks to ensure that the
unregistered goods are no longer sold.

"If the supermarkets do not completely withdraw the products
from their shelves within two weeks, we will forcibly remove them
and report the supermarkets' management (to police) for
negligence," he said.

He added that in the meantime, the agency would continue
collecting data from the supermarkets to trace the suppliers of
the illegal products.

Those found violating health laws face a maximum punishment of
three-years imprisonment or a Rp 360 million fine.

Offenders can also be punished under Law No. 8/1999 for
failing to protect consumers which carries a maximum penalty of
five years and a fine of Rp 2 billion. (emf)