Labeling Obligation for Imported Food and Beverage Products

In relation to Minister of Industry Letter No. 525/M-IND/9/2010, and considering the unlabeled products that are entering the customs area of Indonesia, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise has issued Circular Letter No. SE-19/BC/2010 on the Reaffirmation of the Labeling Obligation on Imported Food and Beverage Products (‘Circular Letter’).

Generally, as stipulated in Law No. 7 of 1996 on Food, as implemented by Government Regulation No. 69 of 1999 on Food Labeling and Advertisement, every person who produces or imports packaged food to be sold in Indonesia must affix a label that contains the following information: the name of the product, the list of ingredients, the net weight, the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, and the expiry date. The label must be clearly written in Indonesian.

This requirements have also been supported by the Food and Drugs Supervisory Agency (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan or ‘BPOM’) which has reaffirmed the requirements for manufacturers, importers, and distributors in Indonesia.

Considering that a lot of the food being distributed is not compliant with the labeling requirements, and that this has an effect on the public, the Circular Letter is addressed to every Head of Principal Services Office and Head of Customs and Excise Supervisory and Service Office in Indonesia, calling on them to strictly monitor the implementation of such requirements with regards to the foods and beverages that are entering the customs area of Indonesia.

The Circular Letter was issued on 6 October 2010.