Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The Indonesian Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) has seized 83,306 zinc-coated steel sheets (BjLS) and 290 steel coils after determining the products failed to meet Indonesian National Standards (SNI).
Trade Minister Budi Santoso said inspections of these seized steel products had been underway since April 2024, with authorities finding non-compliant goods circulating in Pontianak and Yogyakarta.
“We have been monitoring these products since April 2024 and found them in Pontianak and Yogyakarta. These items do not meet Indonesia’s SNI quality standards,” Budi said on Wednesday, December 18, as reported by DetikFinance.
Budi explained that 83,306 BjLS sheets of the GDG type and 290 steel coils of the GDA type failed to meet standards. For instance, the average test results for zinc coating weight on GDG-type sheets were only 56.94, far below the minimum standard of 120.
“Additionally, we seized raw materials in the form of galvanized steel coils from various brands, amounting to 290 coils or 1,251,050 kilograms. The estimated value of these goods is approximately Rp23.76 billion (about $1.5 million),” Budi stated.
The products were confiscated for violating Trade Ministerial Regulation No. 69 of 2018 concerning the Supervision of Circulating Goods and/or Services and Trade Ministerial Regulation No. 21 of 2023, which amends Regulation No. 26 of 2021 on Risk-Based Licensing Standards for Trade Sector Business Activities.
Authorities will summon the businesses responsible to provide further explanations. The seized steel products will also undergo additional testing in laboratories. If the violations are confirmed, the products will be destroyed.
“If proven to violate standards, these goods will be destroyed and processed into scrap. This enforcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to protecting businesses, consumers, and the public. We urge business operators to comply with regulations and maintain fair trade practices to ensure everyone is safeguarded,” Budi added.
The Ministry reaffirmed its stance on upholding safety and quality standards in the market, protecting consumers while also gives businesses a warning that failure to comply could lead to severe penalties, including product destruction and financial losses.
(Raidi/Agug)
