DENPASAR ~

Department of Industry and Trade (Desperindag) of Denpasar made unannounced inspection to a number of second-hand clothes trader at Jalan Teuku Umar Barat and Jalan Nusa Indah related to the rumors of skin bacteria.

“We do the inspection in an effort to protect the public against the bacteria in secondhand cloths,” said Head of Consumer Protection Disperindag Wayan Riona on Wednesday.

In the inspection, traders were asked whether the imported secondhand clothes has been washed and boiled to eradicate the bacteria. “From the results of the inspection in two places, the sellers claimed it was washed and some of them were sold directly after taken from the distributors,” he said.

According to him, the central government has issued a ban on selling imported secondhand clothes. But technically there is no hint on the ban. “Therefore, we only warn traders to wash with hot water so that the bacteria contained in it will die,” he said.

After being recorded and receive guidance, traders claimed that the secondhand clothes are imported from several countries in Asia. In addition they claimed that not all traders sell second-hand goods some are mixed with old stocked-clothes.

While the Head of Trade Business Development Section of Disperindag Denpasar I Gusti Ayu Laxmy Saraswaty, explained that the latest legislation says it is not allowed to import secondhand goods.