Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi gathered cabinet ministers at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, June 20 to discuss Kratom plants. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said three issues would be highlighted: governance, trade, and classification of the plants, which are suspected of containing narcotics.
"Today's meeting will confirm the classification, governance, and trade system. This is what people have been waiting for," Moeldoko said before the meeting.
He explained that there has been no clear supervision of the management of the plants, which is related to their quality. Thus, the standardization is necessary. The government will also determine the regulation, including cross-border trade.
Regarding the classification of the plants, Moeldoko said that the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have different views. The meeting was expected to clarify the matter.
State officials attending the meeting included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, and Deputy Trade Minister Suahasil Nazara.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported that the country's kratom export value declined from US$16.23 million in 2018 to US$9.95 million in 2019, yet increased to US$13.16 million in 2020 and continued to show an upward trend until 2023. From January to May 2023, the exports grew by 52.04 percent to US$7.33 million.
Based on its official website, BNN states that Kratom has dangerous side effects, especially if the dosage is not used properly. However, the plant is not yet regulated under the Narcotics Law. Regional government regulations have not yet been able to limit the use of the plant.
The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has banned the use of Kratom leaves as a supplement or herbal medicine.