The Indonesian government has officially recognized kratom as an export commodity and issued new regulations to control its exports. The regulations, Permendag No. 20/2024 and Permendag No. 21/2024, outline the types and sizes of kratom that are prohibited and allowed for export.
According to the Director General of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Trade, Isy Karim, the new regulations aim to regulate the export standards of kratom to ensure the quality and safety of the product. This is in response to reports of Indonesian kratom being detained abroad due to quality issues.
The regulations prohibit the export of kratom leaves and coarse crumbs but allow the export of finely crumbled kratom in powder form. This ensures that the exported kratom meets the quality standards of the destination countries.
The government also hopes that by regulating the export of kratom, the price and added value of the commodity can be increased for Indonesia. The regulations require exporters to register for export permits and have their export allocations regulated in quantity.
"With the management of kratom export in Indonesia, the Indonesian government can offer the importing country the pre-export notification (PEN) mechanism. Through this PEN, importing countries can give import permits to importers to minimize the abuse of kratom," said Isy Karim.
Matthew Lowe, Executive Director of the Global Kratom Coalition, noted the Indonesian government's move, stating, "Generally speaking, setting regulations in Indonesia seems to be a positive step towards ensuring the quality and safety of kratom exports. We are learning more and working to understanding the real world implications of these regulations to better understand the impact that this will have in the U.S."
The government's decision to regulate the export of kratom is not a ban on the domestic use of the commodity. The Ministry of Health, BRIN, and BPOM are still conducting research to determine the safe consumption of kratom in Indonesia.
About the Global Kratom Coalition
The Global Kratom Coalition is an alliance of kratom consumers, experts, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting and expanding access to kratom worldwide. The coalition focuses on advancing scientific research, driving consumer education, and developing robust regulations that protect consumers. For more information, please visit https://globalkratomcoalition.org.
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