Indonesia: Trade Ministry to revise import of wheat flour supporting materials

The Ministry of Trade stated that it is following up on a proposal from the Indonesian Wheat Flour Producers Association (Aptindo) to exclude fortifying premixes from the regulations restricting imports of goods.

Director of Imports of the Ministry of Trade Arif Sulistiyo said that his side had received a letter from Aptindo regarding the dwindling availability of fortifying premixes for the national flour industry due to the impact of changes in import regulations.

“In principle, we agree and we are following up on the proposal. Later, we will include it in the revision of Minister of Trade Regulation (No.) 36,” he stated when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“Currently, we are preparing a revision of Minister of Trade Regulation (No.) 36 of 2023,” he added.

Sulistyo stated that the ministry had decided to evaluate the rules for limiting imports of goods in Minister of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policies and Regulations as amended by Minister of Trade Regulation No. 3 of 2024.

He remarked that the decision of evaluation was in accordance with the results of the limited coordination meeting at the Ministerial Level for Economic Affairs that was held in Jakarta on Tuesday (April 16).

Apart from evaluating restrictions on the imports of goods, the meeting also decided to revise the rules for importing goods sent by Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) and personal items of passengers.

Sulistyo emphasized that the limited meeting did not revoke Minister of Trade Regulation No. 36 of 2023 but only revised or changed the three points.

Regarding fortificant premixes, Sulistyo said that commodities with the HS Code 2106.90.73 were also included in the revision.

“Hence, it is not revoking but revising or changing,” Sulistyo remarked.

Aptindo stated that the availability of fortified premixes for meeting the needs of the national flour industry is starting to run low, which could result in a shortage of wheat flour.

Aptindo General Chairman Franciscus Welirang stated that the availability of fortified premix from each member of the national flour industry is only until June 2024.

According to Welirang, that will have an impact on the national wheat flour supply.

So far, fortified premixes have been obtained by wheat flour industry players through distributors in the country.

However, as there are changes to import regulations in Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 36 of 2023, this has an impact on the procurement of fortified premixes.

Welirang said that Aptindo was still awaiting the government’s directions, in this case, of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Trade.

Welirang expects a prompt decision from the relevant ministry, as national wheat flour production must continue and not violate SNI in order to protect consumers.

Tags: flour, imports, Aptindo, Indonesian Wheat Flour Producers Association, Indonesia, wheat