Trade Minister to Inspect Retailers After Fortified Rice Content Irregularities Found

Minister of Trade Budi Santoso has confirmed that his ministry will conduct direct inspections of fortified rice products circulating in retail outlets, following scrutiny over the products’ content. The inspections will be carried out together with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the content matches the information stated on the product. Budi said the Ministry of Trade has coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Food Agency (Bapanas) regarding procedures for implementing field supervision. “We have communicated, together with Bapanas and the Ministry of Agriculture, we will check the field later, especially regarding the content. We can check whether it matches the existing composition, or matches the product they are selling. We will check. Supervision,” Budi said when met at Hotel Fairmont, Jakarta, Wednesday (5/8/2026). When asked about possible consumer protection measures, Budi said the government would await the supervision results before taking further action. “We will see first what the results are. There is a supervisory function. So that is what we will do. We will see the results first,” he said. Regarding the possibility of withdrawing fortified rice from circulation, Budi stressed the government will continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies before making a decision. “We will see first, we will coordinate with all ministries/agencies,” he said. The fortified rice polemic emerged after the National Food Agency found that the majority of supervised products did not meet quality requirements. Supervision in DKI Jakarta in June 2026 of 15 fortified rice brands showed only three brands met the provisions, while 12 brands did not comply. These products were sold at prices ranging from Rp17,580 to Rp42,500 per kilogram. Fortified rice is regulated under two standards, namely SNI 9314:2024 for fortified rice kernels and SNI 9372:2025 for fortified rice. Per 100 grams of product, fortified rice must contain a minimum of 0.25 milligrams of vitamin B1, 0.25-0.38 milligrams of folic acid, 1.0-1.5 micrograms of vitamin B12, 3.50-5.25 milligrams of iron, and 3.0-4.5 milligrams of zinc, with a minimum mixing ratio of 1% fortified kernels to milled rice. Following these findings, Head of Bapanas Amran Sulaiman previously ordered the revocation of distribution licences for several fortified rice brands and rice with nutritional claims proven not to meet requirements based on laboratory test results. “I order the revocation of their licences. Order it downwards. That is my authority. Revoke the licence and they must not distribute, because this is a laboratory result,” Amran stressed. In addition to revoking distribution licences, Amran also requested that the alleged violations be processed through the Food Task Force. He even stated he would write to the National Police Chief to oversee the legal process against producers suspected of violating regulations.