Govt to launch new body on consumer protection

writer: Mustaqim Adamrah

The Trade Ministry is to establish a directorate general for consumer protection and standardization in a bid to enhance its efforts to protect consumers from faulty and non-standardized products. The ministry director for supervision of circulating goods and services Inayat Iman said the 10 categories of products included food and beverages, electronics, garments, footwear and children’s toys. “The other five categories of products are packaged mineral water, regulators of [liquefied petroleum] gas cylinders, safety shoes, tires and helmets,” he said. The first five products have to undergo a pre-shipment inspection before entering the domestic market via five designated seaports, as well as international airports, according to a 2008 ministry regulation.

The five seaports are Belawan Port in Medan, Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, Central Java, Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java, and Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar, South Sulawesi. For imports of food and beverage products, the Dumai Port in Riau is also available. Imports of these designated products through any other ports will be declared illegal. Inayat said importers may face a maximum of five years in prison or Rp 2 billion (US$214,000) in fines if found guilty of violating the 1999 Law on consumer protection and causing harm to consumers.

References:
Adamrah, M. (2010). Govt to launch new body on consumer protection. Retrieved February 19, 2010. from the jakarta post: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/17/govt-launch-new-body-consumer-protection.html


Enhance: Meningkatkan
The Trade Ministry is to establish a directorate general for consumer protection and standardization in a bid to enhance its efforts to protect consumers from faulty and non-standardized products
Undergo: Mengalami
The first five products have to undergo a pre-shipment inspection before entering the domestic market via five designated seaports, as well as international airports, according to a 2008 ministry regulation.
Seaports: Pelabuhan
The five seaports are Belawan Port in Medan, Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang, Central Java, Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, East Java, and Soekarno-Hatta Port in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Beverage: Minuman
For imports of food and beverage products, the Dumai Port in Riau is also available.