Indonesia Regulates the Registration and Import Requirements for Three Food Additives

On December 1, 2022, Indonesia Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) issued a notification regarding Requirements for Ethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol in Food Additives for Sorbitol, Glycerol and Propylene Glycol in the Registration and/or Import Process, which has been enforced since November 21, 2022.

It is reported that Indonesia has suspended the sale of several types of children's cold syrup containing diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol, as such products may be the cause of many children's deaths from acute kidney injury, among whom most were under the age of five. Against such background, BPOM endeavors to minimize the level of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in processed food and food additives.

As per this notification, when applying for the registration and/or importation of food additives, in addition to the current criteria, the requirements for the limit levels of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol shall also be followed. The notification specifies that the limit levels of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in three food additives, namely, sorbitol, glycerin, and propylene glycol, shall not exceed 0.10% respectively.

Besides, the notification requires food enterprises to comply with this requirement. If the imported food contains sorbitol, glycerin and/or propylene glycol as food additives, it is required to provide an analysis report from an approved laboratory or a government laboratory as evidence of compliance during the import process. In addition, compliance evidence shall be provided for product registration.