JAKARTA: Authorities destroyed 750 bundles of imported second-hand clothes, estimated to be worth up to nine billion rupiah in West Java.
The operation was conducted at a rented warehouse in Karawang, led by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Friday, reported the Antara news agency.
He said importing second hand clothes is prohibited and asserted that such products could be detrimental to people's health.
"Especially after being checked in the laboratory, they (the second-hand clothes) contain fungi which, if used for a long time, will damage the skin (of the people wearing it)," Zulkifli stressed.
He also said that the destruction of the imported commodity is aimed at protecting the local textile industry.
"The import of used clothing is harming the domestic industry. Trading of second-hand clothes is not prohibited; however, it is not allowed if the product is imported," he said.
Zulkifli appealed to the public, reiterating they should be more careful in wearing any used clothing products.
"(By destroying infected clothes) we take security measures, while at the same time we (also) want to educate the public regarding the risks of using used clothes. One of them is the fungi, thus people should be more careful," he said.
In the operation, he did not reveal the origin of the imported clothing, which was secured by the Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Trade Order (PKTN) of the ministry.
The Director General of PKTN, Veri Anggrijono, said that illegal imports of used clothing were often carried out through small ports from various countries.
"Hence, we continue to coordinate with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (of the Finance Ministry) in conducting the surveillance (of the imported products)," he stated.