The Ministry of Industry ensures that the import of plastic raw materials such as Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) is not subject to import restrictions (Lartas) and is free from Technical Considerations (Pertek).
Import of plastic raw material commodities for 12 tariff lines and Pertek was initially regulated in Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) No. 36/2023.
Director of Upstream Chemical Industry (IKHU) of the Ministry of Industry, Wiwik Pudjiastuti, said that this regulation has been revised through Permendag No. 3/2024, which reinstates the initial regulation to regulate import restrictions on one tariff line without Pertek and supervision is post-border.
“This policy takes into consideration the readiness of several tariff lines whose supply is still not fully provided by domestic producers,” Wiwik said on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
She regrets that many still believe that the import of PE and PP still requires technical considerations from the Ministry of Industry. It was because Minister of Industry Regulation No. 8/2024 on Procedures for Issuing Technical Considerations and Import Recommendations for Certain Upstream Chemical Industry Commodities that include the regulation of plastic raw material commodities has been issued before the issuance of Minister of Trade Regulation No. 3/2024.
In reality, the regulation of PE and PP currently does not require Pertek from the Ministry of Industry because it refers to Permendag No. 3/2024 regarding Amendments to Minister of Trade Regulation No. 36/2023.
“The ministry of industry hopes that this will clarify circulating issues, one of which states that the import of plastic raw material commodities is subject to import restrictions,” Wiwik said.
Furthermore, she said, the government has taken measures to respond to issues that could disrupt business continuity, one of which is through the implementation of the latest regulations regarding import policy and regulation as stipulated in Permendag No. 36/2023 and Permendang No. 3/2024.
In this regard, the Ministry of Industry has also completed several technical regulations to immediately support these import regulation policies. She regrets that this still receives many negative sentiments from several stakeholders because it is not in line with the wishes of those parties.
“We understand that the implementation of a policy may not necessarily satisfy all parties, but the Government continues to make efforts and does not remain silent in responding to issues regarding the regulation of import trade in this business, including the issue of importing plastic raw materials,” she said.
