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Illegal Beef Floods the Market
Jakarta - Imported beef suspected to be illegal is flooding traditional markets in West Java and threatening the price of cattle at farmer level. The meat is sold cheaper compared to local beef.
According to Ali Husen Suryadi, Chairman of the Farmer, Vendor, Livestock, and Fish Association of Sumedang district in West Java, imported beef has penetrated traditional markets in Bandung, Sumedang, and other regions in West Java.
“Because of that, cattle slaughtering businesses are experiencing low demand,” said Ali on Thursday (19/8) from Sumedang.
The imported beef are sold under Rp 50,000 per kilogram, far cheaper than local beef. Per kilogram the price is Rp 7,000 to Rp 15,000 cheaper and consumers are all looking for it.
Ali said the imported beef came from various packages, ranging from 15 to 27 kilograms. Written on the package is EST 93.
Secretary General of the Indonesian Cattle Buffalo Farmer Association (PPSKI), Rochadi Tawaf, suspects the imported beef is illegal meat. EST 93 or “established 93” reminds of illegal meat from Kanada that was imported without halal certification documents from the Halal Transactions Certification Agency of Omaha in the United States of America.
In July 20 illegal beef and offal without halal certification documents were imported to Indonesia. The product is being held in a storage facility in Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java (Kompas 2/7).
Head of the Livestock Service Office of West Java, Koesmayadie T Padmadinata at that time said the office will not issue a technical recommendation to the West Java Integrated Permit Management Body to release the product if it there is no halal certificate.
Rochadi said infiltration of the illegal meat has suppressed the price at farmers and also disturbed supply and demand because it is false supply.
General Chairman of PPSKI, Teguh Boediyana, said illegal beef in traditional markets will push down the price of cattle at farmer level and such pressure is happening when farmers have not experienced good price due to unbeneficial trade policies. (MAS)
Source : Kompas