Optimization of Food Product Inspection Task Forces in Efforts to Ensure Food Consumer Protection at the Local Level

Abstract

Food safety is one of the fundamental rights of consumers guaranteed by the state through Government Regulation No. 86 of 2019 on Food Safety, which places responsibilities for food safety implementation on government authorities, including local governments within their respective jurisdictions. Inspection findings in Surakarta City between 2018 and 2025 indicate recurring categories of food product non-compliance, including expired products, products without adequate labels or expiration information, damaged packaging, and improperly repackaged products. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of food product oversight by the Food Product Oversight Task Force in Surakarta City and to formulate measures for optimizing food consumer protection at the local level. This study employs an empirical legal research method using primary and secondary data analyzed through a deductive analytical approach. The results demonstrate that food product inspections have been actively conducted by relevant institutions; however, the recurrence of similar categories of violations indicates that the effectiveness of oversight cannot be measured solely by inspection activities. Optimization requires stronger operational arrangements, cross-agency coordination, consistent follow-up within the respective authority of each institution, preventive and risk-based supervision, consumer participation, and coordination with competent authorities regarding halal product assurance. An integrated oversight mechanism is therefore necessary to strengthen consumers' rights to safety, adequate information, and legal certainty.