YLKI warns of illegal imported food

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)