Before the Holidays

The government is rushing to issue an import quota on frozen beef as the post-Ramadan holidays approach. Through the trade ministry, import quotas for tens of thousands of tons of beef were given to private companies at the end of last May. This was done after it was felt that Berdikari company and the state-owned Logistics Agency (Bulog) failed to stabilize meat prices during the Ramadan fasting month and with the Idul Fitri-locally also known as Lebaran-fast approaching. However, some regulations were not followed up. The quota was given to a number of companies that do not have a history of importing beef and do not have the recommendation of the agriculture ministry.