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Finance Ministry clarifies carry-on goods restrictions
Another online uproar erupted over the weekend after a video from the Kualanamu International Airport customs and excise office tried to explain about controversial regulations on carry-on goods for those traveling abroad.
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Passengers wind through a line marked by retractable barriers on Feb. 8, 2024 to reach a row of check-in counters at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten. (Antara/Muhammad Iqbal)
T
he Customs and Excise Directorate General of the Finance Ministry has said custom regulations on goods carried abroad by travelers are optional and focus on high-value goods.
The call was made following online uproar as a result of a video uploaded on to social media by Kualanamu International Airport's customs and excise office in North Sumatra. In the video, an official tried to explain the latest regulations related to goods being taken abroad by travelers.
Many expressed frustration over the complexities that passengers may have to face due to the new regulations, as explained in the video. Especially when it appeared that government officials may be exempted from the regulation.
The directorate general's communications and service user guidance director, Nirwala Dwi Heryanto, explained that the policy on foreign goods or goods taken abroad had been in effect since 2017 under Finance Ministry Regulation No. 203/2017 and it is not mandatory for travelers.
Read also: Govt to revise carry-on import restrictions amid online protests
The policy aims to enhance the service for passengers transporting specific items abroad, which will be brought back to Indonesia.
"We emphasize that this policy is an optional facility that passengers can use, so it is not mandatory. [The number of] passengers utilizing it is also very minimal," said Nirwala in a written statement on Sunday.
Nirwala emphasized the policy's invaluable assistance to Indonesian citizens engaged in international events like competitions, cultural activities and exhibitions, which often require transporting equipment such as bicycles, guitars, keyboards or drums.
By registering these items with the customs and excise division before departure, customs clearance becomes quicker and more efficient upon reentry to Indonesia.
Separately, a special staff member to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Yustinus Prastowo addressed concerns regarding the misinformation through his official X social media account.
"We apologize for the inconvenience that occurred and the commotion that arose," Yustinus wrote on Sunday.
He explained that while the information that the Kualanamu customs and excise office shared aimed to address public queries, it did not align with prevailing regulations and practices. He clarified that reporting requirements for luggage of passengers traveling abroad do not apply to everyday items like tote bags or shoes.
Moreover, he emphasized that the self-declaration service is implemented in the international departure area to optimize passenger flow efficiently, not in the arrivals area.
