Letter: Restrictive policies

Wed, 12/10/2008 10:48 AM  |  Readers Forum

In response to world-wide economic dangers, Indonesia has taken steps to reduce risks, one being the restriction of imports -- especially in five categories including food and beverages.

There are some aspects of these restrictive regulations which could be simplified but which would still allow the government controls needed by the ministries of trade, finance, health and the customs office.

For example, the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) could classify countries according to risk: very safe, safe, needs special examination or treatment.

This would mean products from certifiable countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., the UK and Canada would be honored as safe -- as long as their own countries had already certified the products. At the moment, all goods are suspect no matter the country of origin, which is putting a severe strain on the undermanned BPOM.

BPOM also requires anyone wishing to apply for an ML number, or registration of foreign food/drug products, to submit production flow charts, procedures and documents which are not required by other importing countries.

As overseas food companies are often unwilling to give up such information for the privilege of their products being sold in Indonesia, it puts importers in an almost impossible situation.

It also encourages "under the table" arrangements since anything else is virtually impossible.

Information about the procedures under the new regulations is inadequate, and many parties involved have given different answers to the same questions. Someone or the ministry needs to get all participating authorities together to present an organized program that everyone can study and follow. At the moment, no one knows where to go to get the real answers.

If controlling imports is the government's goal, then they are headed in the right direction. However, visitors to Bali and other tourist areas are finding it difficult to get the food and drinks they want.

How is it that five-star hotels cannot serve the food and beverages that tourists want and deserve?

The government needs to think carefully about the conflict between these new regulations and the desire for a healthy tourism environment. It cannot all be just black and white. Tourist destinations need special consideration.

SUSAN
Denpasar

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