TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Customs and Excise Office at Soekarno-Hatta Airport together with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency or BPOM destroyed 2,564 packs of milk buns from Thailand. The trending food, worth about Rp400 million, was collected in 33 raids on passengers' luggage at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in February 2024.

The Customs Office chief, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said the extermination was carried out because the passengers' luggage exceeded the limit. It was based on BPOM Regulation No. 28/2023 on the Amendment of BPOM Regulation No. 27/2022 on the Supervision of the Importation of Medicines and Foodstuffs into Indonesian Territory.

The regulation states that the maximum amount of processed food is 5 kilograms per passenger. "If it exceeds the limit and without BPOM's permission, then action will be taken against the excess under applicable regulations," Gatot said in an official statement quoted on Sunday, March 10.

Of the 33 actions taken, each passenger brought an average of tens to hundreds of milk buns. Gatot said this number is not reasonable for personal consumption. "It's highly suspected that it's for commercial purposes or buying service (jastip, short for jasa titip) . In addition, the passengers do not have a BPOM distribution permit, which is a requirement to bring in the goods."

He said the extermination was an important step to minimize the circulation of goods without BPOM distribution permits in the community. First, safety, quality, and nutrition are not guaranteed. Secondly, from an economic and commercial point of view, this measure is expected to support the local food industry. Thus, local products will not be undermined by similar imported products.

Gatot urges the public to follow the regulations and support the local food industry by purchasing local products whose safety has been registered and guaranteed by BPOM.

"This support not only contributes to the growth of the local economy but also ensures that public consumption is safe and of high quality," he said.

Annisa Febiola

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