"We have summoned g eight refined sugar producers and asked them to call themselves to order so that no refined sugar will enter the consumer sugar market," Director General for Internal Trade Affairs Gunaryo said here on Friday.
The eight refined sugar producers were PT Angels Products, PT Jawamanis Rafinasi, PT Sentra Usahatama Jaya, PT Pertama Dunia Sukses Utama, PT Dharmapala Usaha Sukses, PT Sugar Labinta, PT Duta Sugar International and PT Makassar Te`ne.
Gunaryo explained that the government had asked them to assign clear distributors and sub-distributors and to popularize the sugar distribution regulations to them.
"We ask them to assign clear distributors where each of the distributors is required to sign an integrity pact with the producers to make sure that there would be no refined sugar leaked to the consumption market," the director general said.
He said that the government would also reinforce the performance and coordination of the integrated goods monitoring team in supervising the distribution of refined sugar for foods and beverage industry.
Secretary General of the Indonesian Refined Sugar Association (AGRI) Suryo Alam said his side was ready to help monitor the distribution of the refined sugar.
Earlier, Chairman of the Indonesian Canesugar Farmers Association (APTRI) Arum Sabil said his side had found refined sugar circulating in the consumption market.
"The circulation of refined sugar produced by the factories disturbs farmers` sugar because it is sold at a lower price. We urge that the circulation of refined sugar should be put in order based on regulations," he said.
He said this could have happened because production of refined sugar exceeded the need of food and drink industries. The remaining then entered the consumption market.
Suryo said however it was impossible to happen because the government only allowed the importation of raw sugar based on the volume needed by industry.
This year, he said, the government allowed the importation of 2.4 million tons which after a process would only amount to about 2.2 million tons.
The need for refined sugar of industry this year is estimated at between 2.2 million and 2.3 million tons, according to the Indonesian Drinks and Food Industry Association (GAPMMI) secretary general Franky Sibarani.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
