December 02, 2008

Indonesia to verify steel imports by imposing SNI

ANTARA News reported that Indonesian government has tightened the import of steel products including steel pipes, rebars and steel plates through random verification of imported steel products based on the Indonesian Industrial Standard.

Mr Putu Suryawirawan director of Metal Industries of the Industry Ministry said that his office had already asked the customs and excise directorate general of the Finance Ministry to conduct a random test of the three steel products as demand for the products has been quite high in Indonesia.

He said "While the application of the Indonesian industrial standard has yet to be notified to the WTO, the customs authorities have already conducted the test. We have also asked for assistance of the customs authorities to test the steel pipes, concrete steel and steel plates which had met the SNI.”

Mr Putu said the SNI constituted one of the best standards to prevent the domestic market from domination by imported steel products in conjunction with the growing construction of infrastructure and houses in the country. He said "At present, there are many complaints about steel products sold on the domestic market not meeting the SNI, especially concrete steel and steel plates."