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)