The Coordinating Minister For The Economy Calls The Central Government Strengthens Product Standardization To Protect Domestic Markets

Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Susiwijono Moegiarso said the government continues to strengthen product standardization to protect domestic markets amid the development of digitalization. The strengthening has been carried out, among others, by increasing the development of the Indonesian National Standard (SNI), increasing national measurement tracing, increasing the accreditation of the Composite Assessment Institute, and improving the governance of standard application and suitability assessment. "In addition, increasing the availability of Assessment Institutions, increasing the application of risk-based technical regulations, as well as increasing access, capacity, and quality of stakeholders," he said in an official statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, October 5. Susiwijono explained that in addition to implementing these various strategies, the government has also strengthened the National Standardization Agency (BSN) as a compliance authority by stipulating Law Number 20 of 2014 concerning Standardization and Assessment of suitability. The regulation aims to provide a basis for BSN to expand the scope of the SNI which is prepared based on the consensus of all parties, both ministries/agencies, private business actors, and international agreements. "This understanding needs to be conveyed so that SNI is not only considered a BSN product, but is an agreement of all relevant stakeholders so that ownership can be created and can be maximized in order to strengthen domestic markets and protect consumers," he said. Furthermore, Susiwijono also emphasized the importance of strengthening the coordination of all stakeholders so that the determination of product standards or technical requirements can be more harmonious, so that it will make it easier for business actors. In addition, the government is also considered to need to set standards based on research to adjust the current conditions and needs of domestic consumers. "Participation and collaboration between all stakeholders will certainly be very much needed, especially related to the legality, institutionality, rules, and guidelines governing this matter," he said.