Indonesia’s food manufacturers have claimed imports are violating the country’s labelling rules and have called for tougher enforcement of regulations.
The chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi) has said products should not be sold where consumers cannot read key information on packaging.
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Adhi Siswaja Lukman said customs officials should block imports if they are improperly labelled, arguing the food could be unsafe. Laws say labels must be in Bahasa Indonesian and include a “product name, composition, producer and use by date”, he noted.
However, he added: “Many of them are pasted on the packages flimsily and drop off easily. Their font size is so small that it is hard to see,” he said.
Lukman argued custom officials did not have sufficient powers to block such imports. He called for the Indonesian Customs Office and National Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to be given more authority to prevent the sale of products not complying with Indonesian labelling rules. “This is to protect consumer and uphold their right for right information,” he added.
BPOM director Mr Drs Suratmono claimed the current system was working. He told just-food: “We have protected consumers with our current practice.”
