TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan led the demolition of illegally imported products amounting to Rp12 billion by the ministry team in Surya Terang Warehouse Complex, Sidoarjo, East Java on Monday, July 24, 2023. According to Zulkifli, the products were infiltrating the domestic market without fulfilling the required documents.

"These products are a blow to Indonesia's industry and economy. Therefore, we must take swift and assertive action against it in the middle of the world's unyielding competition," said Zulkifli in his statement on Monday, July 24, 2023.

The Trade Ministry conducted the demolition of illegally imported products with the Directorate General of Customs, Provincial Prosecutor's Office, and the Police Department. There were 12 types of products demolished, namely processed animal products, forestry, ceramics, footwear, electronics, cosmetics, food and beverages, kids' toys, certain textiles products, other specific textiles, ready-made clothing and accessories, and water meters.

The demolition was a follow-up of the post-border investigation and supervision throughout 2023 in the working area of the Surabaya Commercial Order Supervision Center (BTPN). The inspection and supervision are regulated under Trade Minister Regulation No. 51 of 2020 on Post-Border Import Inspection and Supervision.

The importer failed to secure the import permit as required under the Trade Minister Regulation No. 20 of 2021 concerning Import Policies and Procedures as amended with Trade Minister Regulation No. 25 of 2022, and Trade Minister Regulation No. 26 of 2021 concerning Stipulation of Business Activity and Product Standards in the Organization of Risk-Based Business Licensing in Trade Sector.

From January to June 2023, BPTN Surabaya supervised 98 companies and 186 Import Declaration. Through the supervision, BPTN found 33 violations, with 13 given warnings, 16 sanctioned with warnings and products demolition, and 1 sanctioned with blocking of post-border access.

Meanwhile, Acting Director General of Consumer Protection and Commercial Order Moga Simatupang said that the government has eased the access to gain import permits. Therefore, he stressed that business owners shall comply with the law enforced. According to Moga, the demolition was done in the hope of a deterrent effect. Moga emphasized that the government will not let easy the business owners proven to have violated the regulation.

Besides Surabaya, said Moga, the ministry has BTPN in other big cities such as Medan, Makassar, and Bekasi. Moga relayed that one of the objectives of BTPN is to synergize the implementation of policies between the ministry and regions to protect consumers. "We are hoping this will make the supervision at the regional level easier," said Moga.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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