The cooperation agreement between the four institutions, namely the State Ministry for Women`s Empowerment and Child Protection, Health Ministry, State Ministry for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, and Drugs and Food Supervisory Agency (BPOM) was formalized in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed at the People`s Welfare Coordinating Ministry here on Wednesday.
Present at the MoU signing ceremony were Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, State Minister for Women`s Empowerment and Child Protection Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar, Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, and BPOM chief Kustantinah.
The signing of the MoU was a follow-up of the ;aunching of a movement to promote healthful and safe food and snacks for school children, and the cooperatives empowerment effort in the small and medium enterprises for food, traditional medicine and cosmetic products.
BPOM chief Kustantinah said efforts to improve the management of food and snacks for school children should be made in structural, measurable, and integrated manner.
"In the supervision of food, traditional medicine, and cosmetic products, BPOM cannot be a lone player. it needs the assistance and support from all stakeholders among others the State Ministry for Women`s Empowerment and Child Protection, Health Ministry, and State Ministry for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises," Kustantinah said.
Meanwhile, Women`s Empowerment Minister Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar said the cooperation was a manifestation of the government`s concern for the food management problem.
She said her office would coordinate with women`s empowerment and child protection offices across the country to familiarize the public with the cooperation to supervise food, traditional medicine, and cosmetic products.
"With a good familiarization, the cooperation program is expected to run properly," Linda Amalia Sari said. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
