INDONESIA will submit preliminary notification of the plan to apply compulsory Indonesia National Standard (SNI) to water pump and electric iron to World Trade Organization (WTO). As planned, the notification will be submitted at the end of 2009. 

The notification to WTO is a compulsory procedure to all WTO members intending to apply compulsory SNI. "Because the SNI rule will influence the trade between Indonesia and other countries or our export goods flow," said the Director of Electronic Industry of the Ministry of Industry, Syarif Hidayat, yesterday (11/9). So far, Indonesia has applied compulsory SNIs to around 54 products, among others motorized vehicle tires, energy saving lamps, iron, wheat, and cacao powder.

Total products subjected to these compulsory SNI rules will possibly increase. The rules are intended to protect the consumers as explained by the Director General of Means of Transportation, Telecommunication, and Telecommunication and Information of the Ministry of Industry, Budi Darmadi.

The government also prepares six SNIs to electronic products, among others, air conditioner, refrigerator, washing machine, and audio video instrument. But, the plan to apply the compulsory SNIs is still hampered because the government does not yet have any testing laboratories. The application to the six electronic products is intended to avoid monopoly in SNI application process. Syarif Hidayat added that due to the obstacle, the six compulsory SNIs will be issued gradually." They may not be simultaneously applied in 2010, but gradually," said him. (Nurmayanti)


Source : Koran Kontan, November, 10,  2009, page. 14