JAKARTA - Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi asked business actors to immediately clean up by adjusting regulations set by the government in order to maintain national supply stability and food prices.
"For labeling rice products, it means it must be appropriate. If it is listed 5 kilograms, please don't weigh less than 5 kilograms, reducing the scale is not allowed," said Arief, quoted by Antara, Friday, July 4.
Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture together with Bapanas, the Food Task Force, the Police and the Prosecutor's Office conducted an investigation into a commercial rice fraud case after an anomaly about rice.
Even though rice production is currently high nationally, even the highest in the last 57 years with stock to date reaching 4.2 million tons.
Based on the findings in premium rice with a sample of 136, it was found that 85.56 percent did not comply with the provisions; 59.78 percent did not match the highest retail price (HET); and 21.66 percent did not complete the packaging weight.
Then, findings in medium rice with a sample of 76 brands were found to be 88.24 percent incompatible with the quality of rice; 95.12 percent did not match HET; and 9.38 percent did not pay after the packaging weight.
Responding to this, Arief emphasized that the government's efforts to fix the national expansion are a form of protection for the community as consumers so that they are not harmed and still get rice in the market according to the quality and preferences desired.
"Mr. Minister of Agriculture (Andi Amran Sulaiman) yesterday conveyed the results of the tests of several laboratories, there are still some rice products that do not follow the terms and conditions and do not match the label. That is the concern of the government so that people as consumers are also not harmed," explained Arief.
He asked rice business actors to immediately evaluate their products and register a Fresh Planted Food distribution permit (PSAT) which is a fast process because the Regional Food Safety Competent Authority (OKKPD) is available in all provinces.
Arief revealed that the quality requirements for rice must be met according to Per Agency Number 2 of 2023 and PSAT registration are part of food safety control with the regional food service.
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Bapanas continues to educate food labels and the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) so that people understand the characteristics of quality rice and are used to checking important information before buying packaged food products.
Arief also reminded business actors to re-trace the scales periodically so that the weight of the rice according to the dose, avoiding similar cases such as the mismatch of the Minya Kita dose.
"So please business actors, have to review, repair (sales of rice in accordance with the provisions)," said Arief.
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