Heightening competition in
history made the Ministry of Trade put in effect 66 Indonesia National Standard
[SNI] on some industrial products by 2014. The objective was to strengthen
competition and protect consumers. Also to build up defences against invasion of
imported products, a non tariff barrier instrument like SNI was indispensable.
Thereby SNI certified local products could easily enter the domestic market. By
this system, imported products must meet SNI quality standard; meaning low
quality imported products could be disqualified in screening procedure.
By the time the ASEAN Economic Community [AEC] was
effective in 2015, foreign products could freely enter Indonesia, as there
would be no tariff barrier. It would be mandatory to apply SNI on 66 upgraded
product like electronic products, furniture, metalworks, basic chemicals and
downstream products. There were also F&B products, automotives and marine
products. “SNI is most needed to step up competitiveness of domestic products,”
Secretary General of the Ministry of Industry Anshari Bukhari stated in Jakarta
on Monday [13/1].
He elaborated that the SNI system would begin with
issuance of technical regulation, inspection of SNI in the factory, Test labs
and in the market up to quality infra-structure. Basically SNI was voluntary
and periodic. However, the Ministry of industry would stipulate certain SNI
which was compulsory for consumer protection in regard to safety, security,
hygiene, and environment [K3L] caused bu circulation of non standard products.
Anshari explained that in the Industrial Law which was
passed only last December, the Government put sanction as criminal charge on
misuse of Mandatory SNI. Article 120 point 1 of Criminal Law stated that every
person who deliberately produce, import or circulate products goods and
services which were not SNI qualified in terms of technical specification
and/or not in accordance with directions as meant in Article 53 paragraph 1
point b, would be charged with 5 years imprisonment at the longest and maximum
fine of Rp 3 billion at the most.
Article 53 paragraph 1 point b stated that every person
was prohibited to produce, import, and/or distribute goods or services which
were not SNI qualified in terms of technical specification and/or not in
accordance with the mandatory guidelines. Article 120 Paragraph 2 mentioned
that any person who by his negligence produced, import and/or distribute
industrial goods and services which was not in accordance with SNI standard
were liable to punishment of maximum 3 years imprisonment or maximum fine of
Rp 1 billion.
Today the Ministry of Industry listed around 9,320 SNI
product categories consisting of mandatory and voluntary SNI. 4,108 were in the
industry sector and only 87 were mandatory SNI. To strengthen competitiveness,
the Ministry of Industry would continue implement standardization. Anshari was
optimistic that implementation of SNI could protect domestic industry. The
situation was that lately many electronic products were imported but they were
easily damaged and disadvantage consumers. Naturally, application of SNI would
be beneficial to consumers and contributive to strengthening of competitive
edge. (SS)
Business News - January 17, 2014
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