TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government is drafting a regulation aimed at stabilizing food prices, instead of deliberating the food regulation law as implemented in Malaysia.
“There will be an import duty imposed to stabilize prices,” Coordinating Minister for Eonomic Affairs Darmin Nasution said at his office in Jakarta today, June 15.
Darmin added that the government must ensure the quality of food control since high import duties could lead to smugglings.
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“If the import duty is set between 80 and 100 percent, it must be anticipated. Food smuggling via large and small ports will be problematic for us,” he said.
According to Darmin, Indonesia will not yet ratify the food regulation law. The minister explained that it is easy to hide goods in Indonesia due to its vast size. He also pointed out challenges in the law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Malaysia is a far smaller country, so that the law can be effectively enforced. “Indonesia has a different situation from Malaysia,” Minister Darmin said.
VINDRY FLORENTIN
