YLKI warns of contaminated meat

YLKI warns of contaminated meat

Dewi Santoso, Jakarta

The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has warned the public
of the possibility of foot and mouth disease (FMD) as well as
mad-cow disease outbreak as illegal importation of meat products
remains rampant.

YLKI chairwoman Indah Sukmaningsih said a recent YLKI survey
carried out in several traditional markets, including Ciledug
market and Jombang market, both in the Banten municipality of
Tangerang, discovered there were illegally imported meat products
sold at low prices.

"One of the indicators that the meat products were imported
illegally was their low price at around Rp 21,000 (US$2.33) per
kilogram (kg), far below the market price of between Rp 36,000
and Rp 38,000 per kg for local meat products," said Indah.

The normal price for imported meat products is far above Rp
38,000 per kg.

Another indicator was the fake packaging on those products.

"It is written on the products' cartons that they were
imported from a meat producer in New Zealand. Yet, when we cross-
checked with the New Zealand Embassy here, they said they didn't
recognize the producer," Indah said.

FMD, a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and
swine, can also affect sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hooved
ruminants.

Mad-cow disease, also known as Bovine Spongiform
Encephalophathy (BSE), can spread in a form of already infected
beef or cattle. It is fatal and is thus far not curable.

The latest BSE scare hit the country last November.

Indah suspected the illegal meat products came from India,
Brazil and Argentina, but could not provide solid proof.

The Ministry of Agriculture last year issued the decree No.
150/TN.530/A/VI/2003 that bans importation of meat products from
countries with FMD, including India, Brazil and Argentina.

"To date, the decree hasn't been revoked. Therefore, any
import of meat products from the three countries is considered
illegal," said Indah.

She suspected that illegal meat products were smuggled into
Indonesia using false documents, which fooled the customs and
excise officers or fake repackaging as if they came New Zealand
or Australia, countries exempted by the ministerial decree.

"I urge the government to take action to stop the rampant
illegal importation," she said.

She suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture cooperate with
the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the customs and excise
office to curb all smuggling.

Indonesian Cattle and Buffalo Farmer Association chairman
Rochadi Tawaf agreed with Indah, saying it was high time for the
government to take action as the volume of illegally imported
meat products had increased to an alarming level.

Rochadi, however, could not provide the exact figures of the
volume of illegally imported meat products.

He quoted the Directorate General of Animal Husbandry, which
said hundreds of tons of meat products on the market were
illegally imported.

YLKI survey also found meat products imported from the United
States were sold at some supermarkets despite the government ban.
The foundation refused to identify the supermarkets.

"It only shows that the government does not supervise the
implementation of the regulation." said Indah.