Supervision on the Import of Food Packaging Material

With a view to protecting the health of the broader community the Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency has issued Regulation No. HK.00.05.1.55.1621 on supervision of the import of food packaging materials to ensure that all imported materials meet the necessary safety requirements.

The materials in this case are the chemical compounds that are to be used in the production or manufacturing of food packaging irrespective of whether that packaging is to come in direct or indirect contact with a food product.

In order to import one or more of the 604 chemical compounds listed in the Attachment to this regulation, the importer or producer must submit a written application to the Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency. Permission to import will only be granted to those importers and producers that hold the necessary paperwork with respect to being an importer pursuant to prevailing laws and regulations.

Once approval to import has been granted, then it must be noted that this permission is valid for only for the shipments approved. Further shipments would require a new approval to be issued. Simply, there is to be no importing of the listed materials without the necessary permission and permits.

Sanctions are both administrative and criminal.

The regulation has been in force since 13 April 2009.