IdEA: Importers Must Obey Permendag 31/2023 To Protect Consumers

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - The association of Indonesian electronics trading industry players, idEA, stated that the commitment to protecting consumers must be owned by all importers of goods labeled abroad by complying with the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 31 of 2023.

Permendag 31/2023 concerning Business Licensing, Advertising, Development, and Supervision of Business Actors in Trade Through Electronic Systems regulates cross-border trade with electronic commerce (e-commerce), namely direct sales to consumers are limited to a minimum of 100 US dollars. This is stated in Article 19 paragraph (1).

"Since there is a Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 31 of 2023, imported goods that are sold directly to consumers through the platform, are limited to a minimum of 100 US dollars," said Deputy Chairperson of IdEA Budi Primawan at an event entitled "The Agencies for the Empowerment of Consumers at the Digital Economy Ecosystem" in the Downstream Dam area, Central Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, June 5.

The main point is regarding imported goods which are still being sold at the marketplace in Indonesia, supervision should be when goods enter Indonesia (on border). Not when the item has passed in (post-border).

Because, if not, then the electronic trading platform does not have the visibility to see where the origin of the goods sold in the marketplace came from, even though there are provisions that require the marketplace to show evidence of the fulfillment of the standardization of traded goods.

The evidence includes, among others, the registration number of goods or SNI certificates or other technical requirements for goods and/or services that have been applied by SNI; halal certificate number for goods and/or services that must be certified halal in accordance with the provisions; registration number for security, safety, health, and the environment for goods that are required in accordance with statutory provisions; as well as permit number, registration number or certificate number for cosmetic, medicinal, and food products in accordance with statutory provisions.

The items that do not have the documents have the potential to cause harm to consumers if they buy them.