Gets 12 Percent VAT, What Is Special Rice?

Illustration of shirataki (Freepik) special rice

YOGYAKARTA The government's discourse to implement a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 12 is a hot topic of conversation. As is known, the Government officially implements 12 percent VAT in 2025, starting January 1 to be exact. The imposition of VAT will also apply to many products, one of which is special rice. Then what is special rice?

In the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 48/Permentan/PP.130/12/2017 concerning Special Rice, it is explained that special rice is rice that has certain characteristics or characteristics.

From this explanation, it is concluded that there are certain properties or characteristics in special rice, so that these foodstuffs must be imported from other countries so that they can be circulated in Indonesia. Special types of rice are imported to meet certain market segments in Indonesia so that the word 'special' is pinned.

It should be noted that not all rice is categorized in special clustering. Special rice, quoted from the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture RI No. 31/Permentan/PP.130/8/2017 explained that the special rice consists of glutinous rice, red rice, and black rice.

In addition, there are other conditions that, if met, include special criteria, namely rice for health, organic rice, geographical indications of rice, local rice, and certain rice that cannot be produced domestically.

The availability of special rice in Indonesia is obtained through imports from several countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

As mentioned earlier, special rice will be subject to 12 percent VAT. However, the Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, explained that special rice produced domestically would be exempted.

"Therefore, the President of the Republic of Indonesia is clearly taking sides with the lower and middle class, so what will only be subject to 12 percent VAT is only for luxury goods, including the matter of crowded rice. So premium and medium rice are not subject to 12 percent VAT," said Zulkifli Hasan during a press conference in Jakarta, Monday.

Zulhas also emphasized that 12 percent of special rice subject to VAT is only produced abroad. He gave an example that one of the special rice affected by VAT 12 percent is shirataki rice. As additional information, shirataki is rice made from conjac plant tubers. These plants grow in several countries including Japan and China. In Indonesia, shirataki is widely used for Japanese dishes.

"Pendek kata yang pangan tidak ada yang terkena VAT 12 persen dan untuk yang (diproduksi) di dalam negeri itu tidak ada yang terkena kecuali ada beras khusus yang tidak diproduksi di dalam negeri seperti beras Jepang," tambah Zulkifli.

That's information regarding what special rice is. Visit VOI.id to get other interesting information.