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View all search resultsGovt to scrap rice quality classification to curb illegal blending
The government plans to use the simplified categories "special" and "regular", with Bappenas to set the standard price for the latter, to combat the illicit practice of blending different grades of rice for selling at premium prices, which the President has condemned as a brazen "criminal act".
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Workers arrange sacks of rice on July 10, 2025, at the warehouse of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in Cimahi, West Java. (Antara/Abdan Syakura )
T
he government is planning to scrap the rice quality classifications of medium and premium to tackle a recent surge in illegal blending across the country.
Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the decision came in the wake of widespread adulteration of rice that involved blending the two different qualities for selling at premium prices.
“Considering such cases, we will only have one type of rice. No more medium and premium classifications,” Zulkifli said during a meeting on Friday, as quoted by Antara.
According to the senior minister, rice sold in the market would be classified as either “special” or “regular”, with the former referring to rice varieties that have received government approval for distribution, such as japonica, basmati and black rice.
Meanwhile, the price of regular rice would be regulated by the National Food Agency (Bapanas) using a single retail price ceiling (HET), according to Bapanas head Arief Prasetyo Adi.
Arief also said the government planned to remove the existing HET for medium and premium rice, and emphasized the need to ensure that all rice sold in the market met quality standards.
He added that consumer preference was expected to shift toward trusted brands rather than relying on labels denoting medium or premium quality.
