YLKI warns of illegal imported food
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) says 50 brands of illegally-imported food and beverage products are being sold in Jakarta's supermarkets.
"There is no way of knowing whether the products, which are not registered at the Ministry of Health, are safe for consumers," YLKI activist Zaim Saidi said, adding that the illegal products could be easily found at supermarkets in the city.
The 50 brands of illegal products include biscuits, instant cereal beverages, jam, soft drinks, cooking oil, sauces, dried vegetables, canned vegetables and fruit, canned meat and fish, cheese, butter and tea.
The unregistered products come from China, the United States, England, Australia, Belgium, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Denmark and South Africa.
Saidi said these findings had emerged from an YLKI survey last month. He said that the consumers' foundation had also been conducting surveys into cosmetics, many of which are also believed to be imported illegally.
YLKI surveys show that Indonesia is subject to periodic floods of imported products, some which enter the country illegally. Large influxes of imports occur only at certain times, the association says, such as the Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan.
Importers and distributors of products which are not registered with the Ministry of Health are violating three separate regulations: Regulation of the Minister of Health No. 329/1976, regarding food distribution; Regulation of the Minister of Health No. 330/1976, regarding compulsory food registration; and Regulation of the Minister of Trade No. 314/1974, prohibiting the importation of food, drug and cosmetic products not registered with the Ministry of Health.
Article 5 of the Regulation of the Minister of Health No. 329 states that imported food must have a recommendation from the Ministry of Health. The recommendation is to be granted to products which meet certain quality requirements, are considered harmless and healthy and are circulating in the producer's country.
Another YLKI activist, Sudaryatmo, said that the findings indicated deficiencies in the functioning of the Directorate General of Food and Drug Supervision.
Responding to the YLKI findings, the Ministry of Health's Suheni Soejatmiko said that the Directorate General of Food and Drug Supervision was only responsible for overseeing registered products.
"It is the police's business to supervise illegal products," she said, adding that if officials of the Directorate General found illegal products on the market they would only report it to the police.
"So, the YKLI should, please, report its findings to the police," she said. (29)