19 January 2023 - Technical Assistance I
The development of the Indonesia Rapid Alert System (INRAPEX) website, which commenced in 2022, was completed and presented in front of officers from the Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Trade Compliance (DGCPTC), Ministry of Trade, on 17-18 January 2022 in Bogor. The workshop was organised by the Directorate of Surveillance of Goods and Services Distribution, Ministry of Trade, with support from ARISE+ Indonesia, aiming at testing the website functionality, discussing the implementation procedure and obtaining feedback from the stakeholders to finalise the INRAPEX website.
INRAPEX is a web-based integrated database system to share information on dangerous non-food products found by market surveillance inspectors. The system was developed based on the 20 years European RAPEX as the reference model. The development of the INRAPEX system is supported by the Law No 8 of the Year 1999 concerning Consumer Protection.
The Director of Surveillance of Goods and Services Distribution (Dit. PPBJ), Khakim Kudiarto, highlighted the twofold added values offered by the development of INRAPEX.
"INRAPEX enables better communication between market surveillance officers at the central and regional levels. Furthermore, the consumers will be quickly informed regarding the unsafe products in the market," Mr Khakim said.
The development of INRAPEX was initiated by the Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Trade Compliance in 2021, with the preparatory workshops organised by the Directorate of Standardization and Quality Control, with technical assistance from ARISE+ Indonesia. In 2022, the Directorate of Surveillance of Goods and Services Distribution under DGCPTC, as the National Contact Point for INRAPEX, took the lead in developing the website and implementing the system. Three workshops were organised in 2022 to equip the officers of market surveillance of goods and services distribution in operating the system, with continuous support from ARISE+ Indonesia.
Mr Khakim hoped that the INRAPEX system could be implemented well in Indonesia as the first country in ASEAN to have a comprehensive system for information exchange and publication of unsafe or non-compliant products.
"This shows the world that Indonesia is very serious about protecting consumers," Mr Khakim added.
ARISE+ Indonesia Key Expert on Export Quality Infrastructure, Carsten Kudhal, coordinated the technical assistance, supported by EQI Senior Expert Arief Safari, and Erry G. Wiriaatmaja as the website developer.
Delivering opening remarks, Mr Carsten said, "INRAPEX will contribute to the safety of consumers and level playing field for the manufacturers and importers of non-food products placed on the Indonesian market. Eventually, this will ensure fair competition, lower prices and improve Indonesia's competitiveness."
The workshop was also participated by officers at the Directorate of Standardization and Quality Control, Directorate of Consumer Empowerment, and Directorate of Trade Compliance under the DGCPTC. During the workshop, Mr Erry walked the participants through the new INRAPEX website and the implementation procedure. He also gathered input from participants to finalise the website.
Gembong Sukendra, the Market Surveillance Officer at the Directorate of Surveillance of Goods and Services Distribution, extended his appreciation to ARISE+ Indonesia for developing INRAPEX, which will support the inspectors and improve the implementation of market surveillance.
Friska Sari Ronadiba, the Quality Assurance Officer at the Directorate of Standardization and Quality Control, added, "INRAPEX is an important part of the National Quality Assurance System. We hope the enhanced market surveillance will improve and maintain the distribution of good quality products in the market that comply with the national standards."
Following the finalisation of the website, a dissemination workshop will be organised to present and train the market surveillance officers at the regional level to implement INRAPEX.
