JAKARTA - Director of Corporate Affairs of PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk (AMRT) or Alfamart, Solihin, emphasized that until now there has been no official instruction to withdraw rice which is suspected to not comply with the standards of circulation.
"Until now, there are no withdrawal instructions (rice is suspected to be mixed or not according to standards)," said Solihin to VOI, Tuesday, July 15.
Solihin, who is also the General Chair of the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association (Aprindo), added that a number of suppliers or suppliers had made a written statement stating that the rice they distributed was premium rice.
However, not all suppliers did this. Against those who have not made a statement, he also gave a warning.
"Some suppliers or suppliers have made statements that the rice sold is premium. However, there are also suppliers or principals who do not make a statement that the rice is premium, we reprimand and we will not sell the rice," he said.
Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) together with the National Police's Criminal Investigation Unit Team found that branded rice was sold at premium prices, but its contents turned out to be a mixture of medium rice or not according to premium rice quality standards.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized that he would not tolerate the perpetrators of the voting. "We will take firm action against practices like this. This is a form of betrayal of farmers, consumers, and also the spirit of self-sufficiency in food," he said.
According to the rice quality standards regulated in the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 6128:2020, premium rice with a water level of a maximum of 14 percent, a head point of at least 85 percent and a broken point of a maximum of 14.5 percent.
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Not only in SNI, rice quality regulations were also strengthened by the National Food Agency Regulation Number 2 of 2023 concerning Quality and Rice Label Requirements, as well as Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture Number 31/PERMENTAN/PP.130/8/2017 concerning Rice Quality Classes.
"We are very sorry, a number of large companies are indicated not to comply with the quality standards that have been set. People buy premium rice in the hope that the quality is according to standards, but in reality it is not. If it is likened to buying 24 carat gold, but what is accepted turns out to be only 18 carat gold," he said.
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