JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has asked the government to take firm action against producers and importers who deliberately keep using the labels of Palm Oil Free in products sold in Indonesia.
“We hope the government will impose harsh sanctions against those who attach the Palm Oil Free on their products. Such sanction should be given to deter such labeling and not repeat it in the future. The use of Palm Oil Free labels has happened repeatedly since the last few years,” GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono said on Friday (29 December 2023).
Eddy said that the use of Palm Oil Free is the result of negative campaigns launched by certain groups from abroad. The rampant negative campaigns have been slowly packaged as part of lifestyle trend. As a result, foods producers are influenced to follow the use of Palm Oil Free labels.
“What does it mean to be free? Is it a problem of health or else. It should be made clear and producers shouldn’t just follow them. It’s better for the government to summon the producers and importers to question them regarding their motives. The government shouldn’t just ask for clarification, but should give sanctions according to prevailing regulations. Otherwise, other producers and importers will join them at will,” said Eddy.
After being informed on the Korte chocolate, GAPKI sent a letter to Indonesia’s national agency of drug and foods control (BPOM). According to Eddy, the mechanism of labeling foods products with Palm Oil Free should be supervised by government institutions.
Eddy said that palm oil has been proven to have given very significant contribution to Indonesia economically, socially and environmentally. The palm oil industry creates job opportunities for more than 16 million people. During the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, there was no layoffs in the industry and even it still managed to create new job opportunities.
“As the world’s largest producer and consumer of palm oil, Indonesia should stand as a reference for other countries, including on the use of Palm Oil Free labels,” Eddy said.
Previously, ‘Sawit Indonesia’ magazine was tipped with a report on the distribution of Korté chocolate labeled with Palm Oil Free.
Korté Chocolate Cashew& Seasalt is produced by CV Korte Mitra Kreasi, which is located in Surabaya, East Java. On its packaging, the product has PIRT number 5093578035150-26. The product has also got the label of ‘Halal’ (Kosher) from Halal Product Guarantee Administration Agency (BPJPH) of the religion ministry. But the product does not attach a distribution license from the BPOM. It means that the producer does not comply with the BPOM Chairman Regulation No.27/2017 and UU (law) No.18/2012 on foods stipulated in its article 96 verse (1).
Meanwhile, the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries’ (CPOPC) Secretary General Rizal Affandi Lukman has supported GAPKI’s call for the government to take firm actions against the producers and importers who attach their products with the Palm Oil Free labels. He said that the use of Palm Oil Free labels is not only a violation of the government’s prevailing regulations, but it is also a non-ethical strategy of marketing.
Rizal said that products with the POF labels are not necessarily environmentally friendly or healthier compared to products containing palm oil. “The palm oil free labels are aimed to discredit the palm oil industry without a strong scientific basis. It is part of the negative campaigns to vilify palm oil which has a very high competitiveness compared to other vegetable oils at the global market,” he said. (*)
Source: sawitindonesia.com / topcore.wartaekonomi.co.id
