Indonesia has told some retailers in Jakarta to remove food products with “palm oil-free” labels from their stores as the government seeks to protect its main exports, the report said. Reuters .
Palm oil was under scrutiny due to concerns about its environmental impact and Indonesian exports of the product had slowed, the news agency wrote on August 22.
The country's Ministry of Commerce carried out inspections at more than a dozen supermarkets in Jakarta and goods with “palm oil free” labels on their packaging – mainly locally made foods and snacks – were removed from display, said Ojak Simon Manurung, director of products and supervision of the circulation of services in the ministry.
Manurung told reporters that the ministry carried out the inspection after the Indonesian Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) said the “palm oil-free” labeling did not meet its criteria.
BPOM said it would not approve the distribution of products with “palm oil free” labels, saying palm oil was “safe” and the labels were reducing the competitiveness of vegetable oil.
Earlier this year, Malaysian authorities called on retailers not to import food products with “palm oil-free” or “palm oil-free” labels.
Tutum Rahanta, vice president of the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo), said retailers would cooperate with authorities.
“If the aim of the labels was to discredit (palm oil), I think it is fair for Indonesia to protect its main product with its own rules,” he told Reuters .
Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil.
Source: OFI Magazine
