Not fit for human consumption. Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan (second from right), accompanied by Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) chairwoman Lucky S.Slamet (right) and Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah (center), destroy illegal food and drugs confiscated during this year's post-market surveillances in Serang, Banten, on Thursday. (Courtesy of BPOM)

Serang-chapter Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) today destroyed a large stock of illegal drugs, cosmetics and food worth Rp 2.7 billion (US$276.299) taken from a post-market surveillance in 2013.

The illegal products destroyed included 218,896 pieces of illegally-distributed cosmetics consisting 607 different items worth Rp 1.97 billion and 21,461 pieces of unregistered drugs worth Rp 20.9 million.

Other products destroyed included 3,081 pieces of traditional herbal medicines without distribution permits worth Rp 13.5 million and 720,107 pieces of damaged and expired food products worth Rp 720.2 million.

A statement released by BPOM said it was the 9th crushing of illegally-distributed drugs and food the agency had conducted during 2013.

Previously, BPOM destroyed illegal food and drugs amounting to Rp 10 billion in Bandar Lampung, Batam, Jakarta, Medan, Palangkaraya, Palembang, Pekanbaru and Semarang.

During the period, BPOM Serang has brought 14 cases to justice.

'Supply reduction policies will be less effective to curb the spread of illegal food and drugs unless people are more aware of the danger of taking these products,' it said. (ebf)

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