The Central Java Regional Police have uncovered a counterfeit fertilizer manufacturing facility in Boyolali Regency, which had been operating covertly for five years with a monthly production capacity ranging between 260 to 400 tons. The factory’s operations was uncovered following complaints about substandard fertilizers circulating in several areas of Central Java.
In response, Head of the Central Java Agriculture and Plantation Service (Distanbun), urged farmers to actively report suspicious fertilizer products through the available complaint channels provided by both the agency and the Central Java Provincial Government. “The scope of supervision is enormous, there are so many, it’s not enough to monitor everything. That’s why there are reporting channels and so on” he said during an interview on Sunday, July 13, 2025. He further emphasized that his department continuously educates farmers on proper fertilizer usage and the steps to take when encountering products that may be counterfeit or fail to meet quality standards. Apart from Distanbun, such reports can also be directed to the Central Java Fertilizer and Pesticide Supervisory Commission, which is composed of law enforcement, prosecutors, police, and other relevant agencies. He attributed the exposure of the Boyolali-based operation to tips received from the public.
The investigation was triggered when the Central Java Regional Police Food Task Force received a report last month regarding poor quality fertilizer bearing a known brand in Gilirejo Village, Miri, Sragen Regency. An investigation revealed that the counterfeit products originated from a company named located in Karanganyar Regency, which manufactured both known brand fertilizers.
Director of Special Criminal Investigation, confirmed in a press briefing that samples collected from the company’s factory and warehouse in Boyolali failed to meet national quality standards. Laboratory testing by the Agricultural Instrument Standardization Agency in Central Java confirmed that the chemical compositions of the samples were significantly below regulated standards.
While the producer was legally registered and possessed both a business permit and certification, authorities found that the actual content of its products did not match the label.
Authorities estimate the company generated monthly profits between Rp 171 million and Rp 257 million from the sale of the counterfeit products. The company director is now facing charges under Article 62 in conjunction with Article 8 paragraph (1) points e and f of Law Number 8 of 1999 on Consumer Protection, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment or a fine of up to IDR 2 billion.