Trade Ministry to Impose High Import Tax on Ceramics

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Trade Ministry will implement a high tax tariff on imported ceramics. Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, also known as Zulhas, stated that this policy aims to maintain domestic ceramic prices. “We are imposing a high tax tariff,” said Zulhas in front of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ciseuruh Village, Purwakarta Subdistrict, Purwakarta Regency, West Java, on Friday, June 21, 2024.

Furthermore, he mentioned that imported ceramics must comply with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). The Chairman of PAN revealed his ongoing battle against imported ceramics, which are predominantly cheap. He recounted that the Ministry of Trade had confiscated 4.57 million ceramic tableware products worth IDR 79.90 billion at the BTAC warehouse in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday, June 20, 2024, for failing to meet the requirements.

According to a press release from the Ministry of Trade, the findings resulted from the supervision by the Directorate of Supervision of Goods and Services Circulation, Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Trade Compliance (PKTN) of the Ministry of Trade. The non-compliance issues included the absence of an Indonesian National Standard Product Usage Certificate (SPPT-SNI), lack of labeling, and expired SNI certification on several brands.

The Ministry of Trade reportedly seized the imported ceramics to protect consumers from the dangers of using non-standard ceramic products, as mandated by the Consumer Protection Law.

Non-standard ceramic tableware, for instance, can contain heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. These heavy metals can leach into food and drinks, posing a hazard to consumers.

The influx of imported ceramic tableware, coupled with non-compliance by businesses with SNI regulations, is said to threaten public health and disrupt the domestic industry.

HAN REVANDA PUTRA

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