US Requests Labels be Removed from Textiles and Shoes
Thursday, 11 January, 2007 | 16:56 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: US trade authorities have asked that the Indonesian government get rid of the labeling system on textile and shoe products.

This request, according to Ansari Bukhari, Director General of the Directorate of Metal, Machineries, Textile and Multifarious Industries, will be discussed during a bilateral meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) forum at Geneva, Switzerland, between January 22-29.

Ansari said that the US demand was made because it considered the labeling system in Indonesia hampered trade and increased costs.

In addition, the US has asked a permission to import pre-owned health and heavy machineries "They want second-hand US machineries can enter Indonesia,” he said yesterday (01/10) in Jakarta.

According to this Department of Industry official, both the US demands should be voluntary.

The reason is that they are concerned with national industries’ interests and involve many parties.

“The demands will be carefully studied by those involved in national industries,” Ansari said.

Ernovian G. Ismy, Executive Secretary of the Association of Indonesian Textiles, insisted that the national textiles industry had refused the demands.

He emphasized that labeling was important for reflecting product's origin and quality.

“Asean countries such as Thailand have also applied a labeling system,” said Ismy.

With labeling, he continued, product origin and quality can be easily checked.

Labeling was also intended at avoiding illegal trading that might injure national industries and the Law on Consumer Protection has also stipulated labeling.

“This means that if we get rid of labeling, we will be in violation of the regulations,” said Ismy.

MUHAMAD FASABENI