Currently, there is a lot of demand (for the cooking oil) from restaurant chains.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry discussed accelerating the distribution of red palm cooking oil with the National Standardization Agency (BSN) and National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM).

Considering that products manufactured by cooperatives are required to meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) and obtain a distribution permit, Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki discussed the issuance of the SNI with BSN Head Kukuh Syaefudin Achmad and the distribution permit with the deputy for supervision of processed food at BPOM, Rita Endang.

“BPOM and PPKS (Palm Oil Research Center) are directly involved in planning the DED (Detailed Engineering Design), thus the factory (for the product) will be built in accordance with BPOM requirements," the minister said at the ministry’s headquarters here on Friday.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked that the development of the factory be expedited so that its construction can begin in October 2022, while the red palm cooking oil product can be distributed in January 2023, he added.

The construction of the red palm cooking oil factory is part of the President's efforts to improve the welfare of oil palm farmers.

Masduki noted that according to his party’s calculations, as much as 10 tons of red cooking palm oil produced by the factory can be consumed by two surrounding sub-districts per day.

"Currently, there is a lot of demand (for the cooking oil) from restaurant chains," he said.

On the same occasion, the head of BSN said that his agency is running a fast-track program to accelerate the issuance of SNI for red palm cooking oil products. Still, the product must be ensured to have met the health, safety, and quality standards.

Meanwhile, Endang said that her party will issue a certificate on good production methods of processed food for the red palm cooking oil industry as well as ensure that the production site is maintained according to the standards.

“Furthermore, BPOM will issue a distribution permit for the red cooking oil,” she added.

Related news: Minister estimates red cooking oil priced at Rp9,000 per kilogram
Related news: Farmers pleased red palm cooking oil increased product value: minister






Translator: Baqir Alatas, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022