"Our position is in the downstream, so we are waiting for standards and other things, we are waiting for what their results will be," he informed at the opening of the 2024–2025 Ministry of Trade Working Meeting in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday.
Sumedi said that the ministry will regulate the kratom trade system in keeping with the health standards and standardization requirements set by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).
However, so far, the Ministry of Trade has not prepared regulations related to kratom exports, he added.
"The arrangements must be adjusted to the needs of the use, related to standards from the BPOM and the Ministry of Health. If we are downstream, even if there are later, there must be regulations from the export side, conditions," he explained.
Kratom grows in the Kalimantan region. Its leaves are usually used in tea or processed into supplements, which are useful in reducing pain, improving skin health, and increasing libido.
However, if the dosage is not appropriate, kratom can have dangerous side effects.
According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), kratom is not yet regulated under the Narcotics Law, so regional government regulations cannot limit the use of kratom.
The increase in the use of kratom has been marked by a large number of ordinary crop farmers switching to growing the herbal plant because kratom cultivation is considered more economically promising.
It is known that the presidential chief of staff Moeldoko is pushing for the formulation of policies on the management and trade of kratom plant, which has significant economic potential.
He said that policies on the management and trade of kratom must be formulated quickly and precisely because it is not only related to health and narcotics.
The former TNI commander said that the government, through the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), has carried out various studies on kratom, starting from the aspects of its contents, and ecology, to socioeconomic considerations.
The studies will be the basis for establishing policies regarding kratom governance and trade.
Related news: BNN coordinating with Singapore, Malaysia on 'kratom' ban
Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Cindy Frishanti Oct
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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