Head of the National Food Agency (NFA) Arief PrasetyoAdi said the horticultural product import recommendations (RIPH) for 2024 willlimit the volume of imported garlic to a maximum of 650,000 tonnes.
That amount was based on the nationwide need, which was only600,000 to 620,000 tonnes, he was quoted by local media as saying.
Arief vowed that the Indonesian government will ensuretransparency with regard granting the RIPH license for importing garlic,including details on the recommended importers the Agriculture Ministry putforth.
Arief added that the ministry had issued RIPH permits forimporting 1.1 million tonnes of garlic this year, and expressed his confidencethat the Trade Ministry will also restrict garlic imports by limiting thenumber of import approval letters (SPIs) it issued.
Prospective importers must obtain both the Trade Ministry’sSPI and the Agriculture Ministry’s RIPH to be fully licenced. Healso said licensed importers that did not import the approved amount of garlic willbe sanctioned./.