Indonesia to tighten its goods imports

The Indonesian government will tighten control on several types of goods being imported into the country in an attempt to protect domestic produces and consumers.

Deddy Saleh, director general of foreign trade at the Trade Ministry, said the ministry was working closely with the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency, the Quarantine Agency and other institutions, to closely monitor imported products, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, canned food, meats and processed food and beverages.

“There is no policy to restrict imported goods, but we have to tighten import regulations related to the entry of certain products to prevent any negative impact on health, as well as to protect local products,” Saleh said.

Bali, he said, was growing as an international tourist destination. “We admit that the island needs a large amount of imported products, food and beverages in particular, to cater to the demands of international visitors,” he explained.

Hotels and restaurants in Bali procure abundant amounts of imported meats, fruit, vegetables, liquor and other types of alcoholic beverages for their guests.

“But the ministry is calling on hoteliers and restaurant owners to pay attention to the healthof their guests,” Saleh said. Last year, the ministry recorded dozens of different kinds of organisms in imported fresh fruit like oranges and apples as well as vegetables. Some of these products also contained toxic chemicals, viruses and other plant and animal diseases that might have a negative effect on human health.

In the last few months, the ministry also identified 100 imported goods that did not comply with the Indonesian National Standards (SNI).

These products were distributed in several cities, including Jakarta, Surabaya and Batam. “We have also found so many products in Bali which were also below the SNI,” he continued.

Saleh added that numerous industrial products, raw materials and agricultural products, such as seeds, contained ingredients that were prohibited under regulations.

“The ministry encourages importers of consumer goods to pay attention to their clients’ safety. They have to include information on ingredients in the labelling process,” he said.

Separately, Ni Wayan Kusumawathi, chief of Bali Industry and Trade office, revealed that the value of imported goods entering the island had been rising significantly in the last five years.

Meanwhile, the value of Bali exports tended to decrease due to global financial issues.

“But, the value of exports is still higher than the imported goods,” she said.

Official data revealed there were 202 importers operating in Bali shipping in a large variety of goods, such as industrial raw materials, machinery, jewellery and agricultural products