In The Aftermath Of Accounting For Acute Kidney Failure Cases, The Ministry Of Trade Will Tighten Imports Of Propilent Glikol And Polyethylene Glikol

Plt. Director General of Foreign Trade Didi Sumedi. (Photo: Doc. Antara/Kemendag)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade is proactively looking for breakthroughs as a solution to prevent the spread of acute kidney failure which has recently claimed children. The raw material for drugs that endanger the kidneys of children and adults will soon be included in a limited prohibition (laltas) and imports are regulated. This means that the import of raw materials will be tightened. Acting Director General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi said the tightening of drug imports would involve the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Ministry of Finance; Directorate General of Pharmacy and Medical Devices, Ministry of Health; Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, BPOM, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, and National Single Window Institution (LNSW). "To prevent the recurrence of kidney failure in the future and to protect the public, the government is currently discussing proposals for the importation of medicinal raw materials in the form of Glikol Propilen (PG) and Glikol Polyethylene (PEG)," he said in Jakarta Friday, November 4. According to Didi, until now the importation of the chemical ingredients of Propilena Glikol (HS Code 29053200) and Poliethylene Glikol (HS Code 34042000) which are used as raw materials for drugs is not included in the lartas category. Therefore, these commodities are not included in imports regulated by the Ministry of Trade. The raw materials for the drug are suspected to contain Ethilen Glikol (EG), Dietilen Glikol (DEG), and Etylene Glikol Butil Eter (EGBE) which are the causes of acute kidney failure in children. "Until now, the importation of Ropilena Glikol and Poliethylene Glikol has not been regulated by the Ministry of Trade because these commodities are not included in the lartas. Likewise with the import rules for Sorbitol chemicals (HS Code 29054400), Gliselin/Gliserol (HS Code 29054500), Ethilen Glikol (EG) (HS Code 29053100), Ethilen Glikol (EG) (HS Code 2905300), Dietilen Glikol (DEG) (HS Code 29094100) is also not included in the commodities regulated for importation by the Ministry of Trade," said Didi.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Consumer Protection and Trade Order at the Ministry of Trade, Veri Anggijono, emphasized that the Ministry of Trade always coordinates with the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) so that consumers can be protected from drugs and other pharmaceutical products that do not comply with regulations. "To prevent the increasing number of cases of acute kidney failure that are currently happening, the Ministry of Trade is committed to continuing to encourage consumer protection efforts for medicinal and pharmaceutical products that do not comply with regulations. "Until now, the Ministry of Trade continues to carry out surveillance in the field," said Veri. The Ministry of Trade has held coordination meetings with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector such as drug manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies associations and pharmacies, distributors in the field of drugs and online sales associations (idEA) which took place on Monday, October 31 at the Office of the Ministry of Trade, Jakarta. Coordination meetings with relevant stakeholders were also held to equalize perceptions in the context of consumer protection. Trade Kenterian has also asked IdEA to reduce content to 81 links to local market and electronic trading that trade bannedAMy drugs and dry shampoo products that do not have distribution permits. "Dry shampoo products in the United States are now also reported to contain Benzena compounds and have the potential to cause cancer," said Veri. In the coordination meeting, the Ministry of Trade also asked business actors, both manufacturers and pharmaceutical company associations, to follow the provisions of the government regarding the production and sale of drugs according to established standards. "Similarly, online sales associations must play an active role in supervising and reducing drug sales content which is declared prohibited by the government," he said. Veri said that people are also asked not to buy and use products that are being indicated to be detrimental to health. "We ask the public to report if they still find drugs that are indicated to be contaminated by BPOM and not to consume these medicinal products," said Veri.