BP3L Babel Protects MWP by Attributing to GI


BP3L Babel Protects MWP by Attributing to GI

reported by: Setiawan Liu

Bangka, October 24, 2020/Indonesia Media – An effort made to protect white pepper from the province of Bangka Belitung (Babel) namely Muntok White Pepper (MWP) from an unfair trade in global market, attributing to Geographic Indications (GI) certificate. The business, farmers of white pepper in Babel can be protected under GI. “We hold Rights of GI for Muntok White Pepper. While another producing countries, including Vietnam, ironically still demands white pepper from Babel. After we investigate further, our pepper has been used for blending Vietnam’s pepper to boost their quality,” said Rafki Hariska, the head of Pepper Management Development and Marketing Agency (BP3L)

GI has been protected internationally under Article 22-24 TRIPS which defines GI as indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a Member, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin. Contribution to Muntok White Pepper supplies to the market, BP3L investigated certain alleged certain practices in import trade of some members of an intergovernmental organization of pepper producing countries, International Pepper Community (IPC) including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The Role of BP3L as the NGO is important, protecting Muntok White Pepper export under its GI. Muntok White Pepper is highly localized with strong specificity that its uniqueness linked to geographical factors, with high quality and well known reputation. “Their pepper (from member countries of IPC), such as Vietnam has its piperine much lower than Muntok White Pepper. Therefore, our pepper is mixed with Vietnam’s. We find out the fact,” said Rafki

The name of white Muntok pepper comes from the town near where it is grown. It is located in Indonesia, more precisely on the island of Bangka. This idyllic place is a favorable land for the development of the piper negrum, a liana which offers us magnificent pepper berries. When bringing the flavor of MWP to the cooking, the kitchen gets extra sparkle that will make all the difference. “Therefore we need to maintain its quality and its mild and elegant taste,” said Rafki.

When producers in foreign countries sell the pepper in which the packaging detach the brand Muntok White Pepper, the result won’t be satisfied. Therefore, some producing countries attempted to apply the brand of MWP to their pepper. The governor of Babel, Erzaldi Rosman also checked MWP through Taiwan, Holland, German, and finally found out that there is an alleged unfair practices. “They mix theirs with Muntok White Pepper. The governor was very angry after he found out the practice. Therefor Babel local government passed a law to restrict sales and exports of pepper from Babel, except IG certificate is attributed by importers,” said Rafki. (sl/IM)

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