February 14, 2013

Indonesia bans import of beef offal from 2013

Beginning this year, Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture banned imports of beef offal from all over the world.

Gratitude Iwantoro, Director General of Livestock and Animal Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, said the ban on imports of offal was to protect meat by-products such as skin and bone.

Gratitude said offal imports are restricted to the heart and liver up to 10% of the total imports of the meat. "As for 2013 it was prohibited from importation of offal," said Aha, Tuesday (Feb 12).

The import ban could potentially raise prices in the innards market. "Prices of innards will soar. If the first local price can be reduced by the price of imports, now it cannot," said Marina Ratna, Chairman of Indonesian Association of Animal Protein.

In 2011, the price of beef offal (liver) ranges from IDR17,000 (US$1.8) to IDR20,000 (US$2.1) per kilogramme. Now, the price could reach IDR40,000 (US$4.15) per kilogramme, while the price of  heart can reach IDR54,000 (US$5.6) per kilogramme.