KPPU Urges Importers To Realize Garlic Imports

Illustration. (Photo: Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) urges garlic importers to immediately realize the import of these food commodities. Because, less than one month Indonesia will enter the month of Ramadan or the month of fasting.

KPPU commissioner, Guntur Saragih said, relaxation of garlic import requirements will still not help to reduce prices in the market, if the supply of these commodities is not imported immediately.

"In the current condition, relaxation is not enough. There must be pressure on business actors to immediately realize imports because the availability of goods is needed," he said, in a video conference with journalists, in Jakarta, Thursday, April 2.

Guntur said that the problem that recurs every year is the delay in import realization. This is due to the delay in issuing Horticultural Product Import Recommendations (RIPH) and Import Approval Letter (SPI).

According to Guntur, now every importer should start executing because the government has provided relaxation space for importers.

As is known, the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has temporarily released the Import Approval Letter (SPI) and Surveyor Report (LS) until May 31, 2020. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture also does not prohibit imports without RIPH. However, it will still be recorded for each importer, whether importing with or without RIPH.

Guntur said, if the entry of imported garlic continues to be slow, there are indications that a cartel between business actors is deliberately holding back the realization of imports to keep prices high. Moreover, currently the price of garlic is still quite high, so that it has not shown a significant decline as a result of the relaxed import policy.

In addition, Guntur said, what is needed now is not only relaxation of imports, but also supplies to meet demand. KPPU also reminds business actors to avoid business practices that are detrimental to society and create an unhealthy business competition climate.

"Even though work from home is currently being implemented, we can still enforce the law against business actors who commit violations," he explained.

On the same occasion, the Economic Director of KPPU Firmansyah said that his party also supervised the trade in other food commodities. Not only that, coordination with various traditional market managers to see food price movements is also being carried out.

"We are also monitoring in terms of the margins taken, we continue to look at the price situation and the profits obtained," he said.