Navigating BPOM: How to Import and Register Consumer Goods in Indonesia

Updated October 2026 · 11-minute read

Indonesia's shoppers buy skincare, snacks, supplements and drinks from all over the world, but none of those products can legally reach a shelf, a pharmacy or a marketplace listing without passing through BPOM first. This guide explains who BPOM regulates, how product registration works, what you need for every shipment, and the halal rules taking effect this month.

What is BPOM, and which products need it?

BPOM (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan) is Indonesia's National Agency of Drug and Food Control. It's the counterpart of the US FDA for products that are eaten, drunk, swallowed or applied to the body. Before one of these products can be sold, it needs a distribution permit (izin edar), shown as a BPOM number on the label.

Products regulated by BPOM:

• Processed food and beverages, including snacks, sauces, coffee, confectionery and packaged drinks
• Cosmetics, including skincare, make-up, hair care, fragrances and toiletries
• Health supplements, such as vitamins, minerals and protein products
• Traditional medicines (herbal and jamu) and quasi-drugs
• Drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription (these follow a separate, stricter pathway not covered in detail here)

Who can hold a BPOM registration?

This is the first strategic decision, and it's the one foreign brands most often get wrong. A foreign company cannot apply to BPOM directly. The registration must be submitted and held by an Indonesian legal entity, which then becomes legally responsible for the product: importing, distribution, complaints, adverse events and recalls.

The foreign manufacturer or brand owner appoints that entity through a Letter of Authorization (LoA). You have three realistic options:

If you plan to build a long-term brand in Indonesia, holding registrations in your own entity is usually worth it. Our PT PMA setup guide walks through how to establish one. If you'd rather work with an established local operator from day one, a joint venture partnership can give you a registration holder, importer and distribution channel in one.

BPOM registration numbers explained

The prefix of a BPOM number tells you the product category and whether it's made locally or imported:

Consumers and marketplaces can check any number in the public database at cekbpom.pom.go.id. Major Indonesian e-commerce platforms routinely remove listings that show no valid BPOM number.

Registering your products step by step

1. Classify each product

   Confirm whether it's food, cosmetic, supplement or traditional medicine. Borderline products (such as a collagen drink or a "medicated" cream) are a common source of rejection, so settle the classification before preparing anything.

2. Appoint the Indonesian registration holder

   Choose your own entity, a distributor or a licence-holding service, and issue the Letter of Authorization. The holder needs an NIB and the right business licences in OSS.

3. Check ingredients and claims

   Screen the formula against BPOM's lists of banned and restricted ingredients and permitted limits. Review every marketing claim: medical-sounding claims on food or cosmetics are rejected.

4. Prepare the dossier

   Typical documents include the LoA, a Certificate of Free Sale, a GMP certificate (or for food, a health certificate from the country of origin), full composition and specifications, test results, and Indonesian-language label artwork. Names, formulas and manufacturer details must match exactly across every document.

5. Submit online and pay the fee

   Food and supplements are registered through BPOM's e-registration system; cosmetics go through the Notifkos notification system. Official fees were revised under Government Regulation 15/2026 and are paid at submission.

6. Respond to evaluation

   BPOM reviews the file and may request corrections, label changes or, for food, product samples for laboratory testing. Fast responses keep your file moving.

7. Receive your BPOM number

   Once approved, print the number on the label and keep the approval on file. It's linked to the exact product, formula, pack size and manufacturer you registered.

Importing each shipment: NIB, SKI and customs

A BPOM number lets you sell a product. Bringing it into the country is a separate process that repeats for every shipment.

1. Importer licence (NIB)

The importer of record needs an NIB issued through OSS, which also serves as the importer identification number (API). Depending on the HS code, some consumer goods also need an Import Approval (Persetujuan Impor) from the Ministry of Trade under its consumer-goods import regulation, plus regular import realisation reports.

2. BPOM import certificate (SKI)

Each shipment of BPOM-regulated goods needs a Surat Keterangan Impor (SKI), applied for online through e-BPOM. An SKI covers one shipment only. There are two types:

• SKI Border for cosmetics, supplements, traditional medicines, quasi-drugs and drugs. It must be approved before customs release.
• SKI Post-Border for processed food. It can be completed after customs release, within the set timeframe.

The SKI application must match your BPOM registration, invoice, packing list and bill of lading exactly: product names, quantities and HS codes. Products must also arrive with enough remaining shelf life to meet BPOM's minimums.

3. Customs clearance

Your customs broker files the import declaration (PIB) with the SKI and any halal documents attached. Duties, VAT and income tax prepayment are paid at this stage. Mismatched paperwork is the most common cause of red-lane inspections and port storage charges.

The October 2026 halal deadline

Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Law is phasing in mandatory halal certification, and 17 October 2026 is a major milestone. From that date, under Government Regulation 42/2024, halal certification becomes mandatory for:

Halal certification is handled by BPJPH (the Halal Product Assurance Agency), separately from BPOM, but the two systems are increasingly linked. A few things foreign brands need to know:

• Foreign halal certificates can be recognised if they're issued by a foreign halal body that has a mutual recognition agreement with BPJPH. The certificate must then be registered in Indonesia before use.
• New import controls. BPJPH Regulation 4/2026, in force since September 2026, requires halal assurance for covered imports before each shipment enters Indonesia, documented through the foreign halal body and declared at customs.
• Non-halal products aren't banned, but they must say so. BPJPH Regulation 3/2026 requires products made with non-halal ingredients or processes to carry a clear non-halal label. Products already on the market have until July 2027 to comply.

Indonesian labelling rules

Every product must carry a label in Bahasa Indonesia, either printed on the pack or applied as a sticker before distribution. Requirements vary by category, but expect to include:

• Product name and type
• Full ingredient or composition list
• Net content (weight or volume)
• Name and address of the manufacturer and the Indonesian importer or registration holder
• BPOM registration number
• Batch or production code, and expiry date
• Usage instructions, warnings and storage conditions where relevant
• For food: nutrition information and allergen statements
• The Indonesian halal logo, or a non-halal statement where required

Label artwork is reviewed as part of registration. Changing it later, even a design refresh, may require a variation filing.

Timelines and validity

The biggest variable is preparation. Incomplete documents, ingredient issues and label corrections account for most delays, so the first registration takes longest. Later products from the same manufacturer usually move faster.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Letting a distributor own your registrations without a clear agreement on transferring them if the relationship ends.
• Shipping before the BPOM number is issued. Goods without a valid registration and SKI can be held at port or re-exported at your cost.
• Overclaiming. Words like "cure," "treat" or "whitening" on the wrong product type lead to rejection.
• Changing the formula or manufacturer quietly. Your registration covers one specific product. Changes need to be reported or re-registered.
• Ignoring the halal timeline. From 17 October 2026, covered products without halal certification or the required non-halal labelling are at risk of enforcement.
• Treating marketplaces as a loophole. Platforms check BPOM numbers and remove unregistered products, and cross-border sellers face the same rules.

Frequently asked questions

Want to understand the bigger opportunity first? Read why you should invest in Indonesia, or browse more guides for foreign businesses in our news and insights section.

This article is general information, current as of October 2026, and is not legal or regulatory advice. BPOM, Ministry of Trade and halal rules change frequently and depend on your specific product — confirm requirements with BPOM, BPJPH or a qualified regulatory consultant before registering or shipping.