Export Legalization Of Kratom Products Welcomed By Business Actors

Farmers harvest cronatom leaves which are the source of people's income in Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan. (ANTARA/Teofilusianto Timothy)

JAKARTA - Chartom business actors welcomed the legalization regulations for exports of these products through the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) No. 20 and No. 21 of 2024.

"With this regulation, the policies and procedures for the export of krotom commodities are considered an important step in providing clear legal certainty and guidelines for the exporters and entrepreneurs of crotoms throughout Indonesia," said Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Kratom Association (AKI) Rudy Zaidar Mochtar, quoted by Antara in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Monday.

The actor who exported crotoms in West Kalimantan said the positive policy of legalizing the export of crotoms through memandag was an important breakthrough that was expected to provide legal certainty and improve the quality and reputation of Indonesian silicon products in the international market.

According to him, krotom-producing areas such as West Kalimantan will certainly receive benefits from these regulations in the form of improving the welfare of farmers.

He explained that the issuance of Permendag 20/2024 and Permendag 21/2024 is a significant effort to overcome various challenges faced by the krotom industry, including product quality problems, unhealthy price competition, and the need for standardization for exporters.

The regulation stipulates strict conditions regarding the types, shapes, and sizes of the crotoms that are allowed to be exported, as well as regulating the requirements for exporters to meet certain standards.

"We really appreciate the existence of clear arrangements on the types and sizes of crotoms that are allowed for export, as well as the requirements that exporters must meet. This step will help reduce the risk of uncertainty in trade and ensure that Indonesian krotom products can compete fairly in the global market," he said.

He also hopes that this regulation can increase the added value of the krotom product and provide better protection for farmers and local business actors, including in West Kalimantan.

"In addition, this arrangement is expected to maintain the reputation of Indonesian krotoms and prevent product abuse," he explained.

Previously, the government officially regulated the policy of handling, utilizing, and trading of the crotom plant as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Trade (Permendag) Number 20 of 2024 concerning the Third Amendment to the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 22 of 2023 concerning Prohibited Goods for Export, as well as the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 21 of 2024.

The Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Isy Karim, said that the regulation of the export of krotom commodities aims to increase the added value and acceptance of Indonesian export products.

The protocol rules for the export of krotoms will apply standard export provisions, including free microbiological contamination, heavy metals, and other leaf mixtures.