Pictured above: US Senator Curt Bramble at a kratom symposium in West Kalimantan, Indonesia
United States (US) Senator Curt Bramble stated that kratom is a superior commodity in West Kalimantan which is very popular in the US.
“Besides its function for health, especially helping opioid sufferers to recover, for that reason, we believe that we must work together to create a fair trade system from kratom, so that both parties benefit and no one is harmed,” Bramble said in front of The Governor of West Kalimantan, Sutarmidji, at a symposium entitled “Kratom Sustainability”, at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Pontianak City, West Kalimantan Province, Friday (12/08/2022).
Bramble further said, the kratom plant is very good for its citizens and it is proven that there are no harmful effects like consuming illegal drugs.
It’s just that, Bramble stated, that many buyers or vendors from America feel at a loss due to problems with kratom export standards in Indonesia.
“So, far buyers or vendors from America have also been harmed by the existence of kratom products mixed with other ingredients, such as guava leaves and so on, so the quality is not maintained,” he said.
“Therefore, we legislators from America also have the opportunity to establish KCPA (Kratom Consumer Protection Act), a kind of rule to protect consumers in America who consume kratom,” he continued.
Bramble explained, KCPA aims to ensure that kratom products imported from Indonesia to America are harmless, safe and uncontaminated, especially from salmonella bacteria , escherichia coli, heavy metals – and especially products that enter America must go through a laboratory.
“The United States Food and Drug Administration several years ago also banned the distribution of kratom because when tested in the laboratory it was proven that kratom in Indonesia was mixed with other dangerous ingredients,” explained Bramble.
So far, said Bramble, there have been 7 states in America that have implemented KCPA and more than 20 states have considered implementing this consumer safety rule.
“As we all know, there are many challenges faced, especially in Indonesia. Actually, both sides, both America and Indonesia, are facing challenges, but different challenges,” he said.
“For Indonesia, perhaps the more dominant challenge is quality and safety, especially in the pollution section, because many of the exported products are contaminated with bacteria and so on. We have to be able to ensure that we have clear SOPs regarding quality control,” he explained.
In order to solve this challenge, Bramble stated, his party then took the initiative to cooperate with the Indonesian side to establish a standardized GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) system, so that the quality of kratom could be maintained when it was exported.
“Fair trade that has been implemented by Koprabuh with its SOP system can improve quality and can increase the selling price of this kratom. So, this trip is my third trip to Indonesia, and the point of this whole trip is to monitor the supply chain of kratom,” he explained.
Going forward, Bramble stated that his party would also increase cooperation with all farmers in West Kalimantan and increase Indonesian-American cooperation regarding kratom exports.
“There is a story from the US of a kratom consumer, who was sick after surgery and took opioids as a pain reliever, but over time became addicted to opioids, and kratom saved him,” said Bramble.
“It can be seen from this story, that kratom can have a good effect on treating depression, anxiety, recovery from illness and so on. Hope (US) in the future, regulations can be clarified, and we can collaborate together to carry out this fair trade , “concluded Bramble.
Fair trade that has been implemented by Koprabuh with its SOP system can improve quality and can increase the selling price of this kratom.
