The world of Indonesia is in an uproar regarding the implementation of Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 36 of 2023 which limits the amount of luggage carried by passengers traveling from abroad. Because it is closely related to Indonesian migrant workers returning to their homeland bringing souvenirs for their families or personal items, this issue is widely discussed among PMI Hong Kong, especially on social media.
Responding to this, the Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas said that his party would evaluate Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023. He said this was done because the Ministry of Trade received many complaints from the public regarding regulations limiting the number of items brought in from abroad.
"I'll evaluate it later. "I have sent a letter to the Coordinating Minister (Economy) for us to discuss it again," said Zulhas in Jakarta, last Thursday (14/3/2024), as reported by KOMPAS.com.
Zulhas said that his party received complaints from the public, especially regarding several items such as shoes and cosmetics. He said that Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 allows it to be revised. “Permendag 36 may be (revised). Because of Minister of Trade Regulation 36, there were a lot of complaints. "There's a matter of bringing shoes, you have to take powder or something like that," he said.
Regarding the difference between souvenir goods and jastip goods, Zulhas said that Customs and Excise can regulate this matter. According to him, goods brought from abroad in the form of souvenirs are certainly allowed to enter.
"If you buy a bag in a trade, it has to have a cardboard box and a receipt. "Not for making souvenirs, one box contains 100. Yes, it's okay to make souvenirs, right," he said.
The government has begun implementing restrictions on the number of items carried by the government through the Directorate General of Customs and Excise since March 10 2024, following the enactment of Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 36 of 2023 last December. This Minister of Trade Regulation was promulgated on December 11, 2023. After going through a 90-day transition period, it will officially come into effect on March 10, 2024.
List of restricted items The number of restricted items and their limitations are as follows:
1. Animals and animal products (Maximum 5 kg and not exceeding 1.500 US dollars per passenger or crew member)
2. Rice, corn, sugar, garlic and horticultural products (Maximum 5 kg and not exceeding 1.500 US dollars per passenger or transport crew) 3. Pearls (Maximum value free on board (FOB) 1.500 US dollars)
4. Fishing products (Maximum 25 kg per shipment) 5. Cellular telephones, handheld computers and tablet computers (Maximum 2 units per person within 1 year of arrival)
6. Toys (Maximum value FOB 1.500 US dollars) 7. Bags (Maximum 2 pieces per person)
8. Footwear (Maximum 2 pieces per person)
9. Electronics (Maximum 5 units and maximum value FOB 1.500 US dollars per person)
10. Two-wheeled and three-wheeled bicycles (Maximum 2 units per person)
11. Alcoholic drinks (Maximum 1 liter per person) 12. Downstream plastic (Maximum value FOB 1.500 US dollars)
13. Other finished textile goods (Maximum 5 pieces per person).
