Ministry Of Trade Destroys 122 Bal Used Clothing From Imports In Minahasa

Destruction of used clothes from imports in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Thursday (11/5/2023). (ANTARA/Ho/Ministry of Trade/doc.Pri)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Trade Order (PKTN) of the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) destroyed 122 used bales from imports worth IDR 610 million in Minahasa, North Sulawesi.

"We are collaborating with a number of relevant agencies to commit to controlling and enforcing the law on the rampant trade in used clothing from imports. This time, we destroyed 122 used bales from imports in North Sulawesi," said Director of Trade Order Tommy Andana as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 11.

Head of the Makassar Commercial Order Supervision Center, Erizal Mahatama, appealed to the Indonesian people to prioritize and increase the use of domestic products. With consumer interest in used clothing from imports, the problem of circulating used clothing from imports in Indonesia is expected to be resolved.

"What we are worried about is used clothes like this, just like what we tested from the results of our previous supervision, which is that it is proven to contain mushrooms that have a potential to have a bad impact on human health," said Erizal.

Used clothes from imports violate Article 8 Paragraph (2) of Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection and Article 51 of Law Number 7 of 2014 related to the prohibition of importing prohibited goods.

Erizal emphasized that this extermination is expected to provide a deterrent effect for business actors who do not comply with the provisions and provide examples to other business actors to carry out their business activities in accordance with the provisions of the legislation.

"The government will be firm in enforcing the provisions of laws and regulations. There is no compromise for business actors who do not obey or abuse the rules. If violations are found, the government will take action in accordance with the provisions," said Erizal.

Used clothes are goods that are prohibited from importing. This is based on the Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 18 of 2021 as amended by the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 40 of 2022 concerning Amendments to the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 18 of 2021 concerning Prohibited Exports and Goods Prohibited from Imports.

The destruction of used imported clothing had previously been carried out in Pekanbaru (Riau), Sidoarjo, (East Java), Bandung (West Java), Cikarang (West Java), and Batam (Riau Islands).