This video capture shows customs officials at Soekarno-Hatta Airport preparing to dispose of smuggled milk buns by burning them in Tangerang,Banten, Friday, March 8, 2024. - Image via Jakarta Globe
JAKARTA (Bernama): Indonesian authorities disposed of 2,564 milk buns confiscated from passengers mostly from Thailand at Soekarno-Hatta Airport during 33 enforcement checks carried out in February.
The airport’s customs and excise head Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said in a statement that the buns, identified as viral food products from Thailand, weighed a tonne and valued at 400 million rupiah (RM120,676).
"Passengers found with dozens to hundreds of milk bun pieces were suspected of using them for commercial purposes or parcel services," he noted.
Passengers also lacked the required distribution permits from the country's Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM).
Indonesia strictly enforces a five-kilogramme limit on processed food items per passenger. Items exceeding this limit without BPOM authorisation face enforcement actions.
These measures aim to reduce the circulation of unauthorised BPOM goods, thereby supporting the local food industry and safeguarding public safety by addressing the lack of nutritional guarantees.
"During 33 inspections, we found passengers carrying dozens and even hundreds of Milk Bun packs in various brands. This amount seemed unreasonable for personal consumption, leading us to suspect that the Milk Buns were smuggled here for commercial purposes," Airport Customs Office Head Gatot Sugeng Wibowo told a news conference in Tangerang, Banten, as reported by Jakarta Globe.
The disposal of the Milk Buns also aims to prevent the distribution of processed food without mandatory BPOM approval, protecting Indonesian consumers from unlicensed products lacking certified quality and nutrition assurance, Gatot explained.
"We urge community members to adhere to existing regulations and support the local food industry by purchasing products certified by the BPOM. This not only contributes to economic growth but also ensures the safety and quality of the food consumed,” he concluded.
