Whip Pink Case Spotlighted, Coordinating Ministry of Trade with BPOM

JAKARTA - The large number of cases of misuse of Whip Pink containing nitrous oxide gas (N2O) has received the attention of the government. The Ministry of Trade stated that it had coordinated with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).

For information, the pink whip itself is a small gas canister containing N2O with a pink packaging. N2O itself is generally used for health and culinary purposes. However, in practice, the product is often misused.

Trade Minister Budi Santoso said coordination was carried out to ensure the position of the Whip Pink regulation, especially regarding alleged irregularities in its use in the field. He emphasized that the technical policy related to the product was under the authority of BPOM.

"In principle, we have coordinated with the BPOM. We will check again whether it is considered a deviation," said Budi at the Ministry of Trade Office, Jakarta, Friday, February 6.

Budi said that according to regulations, the use of N2O is actually allowed, especially for health and culinary purposes. However, the government still opens the possibility of further evaluation if there are indications of deviations in its use in the community.

Even so, Budi said the government also needed to be careful in determining the steps of supervision so as not to be mistaken in the implementation of policies. Therefore, the Ministry of Trade will not be hasty in deploying supervision before there is technical clarity from BPOM.

"Technically, the policy is at the BPOM. So we shouldn't be wrong when we do field supervision," he said.

In line with this, the Director General of Consumer Protection and Trade Order (PKTN) of the Ministry of Trade, Moga Simatupang explained that nitrous oxide is a food additive that is regulated by BPOM. The substance is used as propellant in food products.

"Regarding nitrous oxide, it is an additional food that is allowed by the BPOM. It is used as propellant in food products and its supervision is at the BPOM," said Moga.

However, Moga reminded that the main problem lies in the potential for misuse of products that are actually legal for certain purposes. He cited a similar case that had occurred with glue products.

"This is the same as it used to be crowded, Aibon glue. Actually it is used for shoes or wood ngelem. But it is misused by being inhaled," he said.