On Aug. 2, 2021, Indonesia FDA (BPOM) unveiled the amendment to "BPOM Regulation No.31 of 2018 on Processed Food Label" with immediate effect. 

Major Revisions Revealed by the Amendment 

Labeling requirements for business-to-business products 

The amendment updates the labeling requirements for business-to-business products while preserving all mandatory items. According to the amendment, if the distribution of processed food is not conducted by neither the manufacturer nor the importer, then those processed foods should be indicated with information like "non-retail sale", "not for repacking", "for hotels or restaurants only" or other similar information. 

Labeling of ingredients 

Compared with the current version, the amendment details the requirements for the labeling of ingredients, specifies three kinds of raw materials, including those  serve as the essential part of the processed food, those emphasized on the label in the form of text or image, and those mentioned in the name of food category, must be indicated with the percentage the material accounts in the food product. Besides, the requirements for the labeling of additives are also updated. The maximum usage of the additive becomes a mandatory item on labels of retail packaging.

Halal label and certification 

The amendment provides more stringent requirements for the labeling information and certification of halal food. It underlines that processed foods contained prohibited materials are excluded from obtaining halal certification, and the halal labelshall comply with related regulations.

Forbidden information 

The amendment strengthens the regulation over forbidden information on the label, stipulating words in superlative form or words like "only" as a violation unless with accepted evidence or documents attached. In addition, the amendment clarifies how to deal with the information in food labeling that currently not being formulated. That is, for the labeling of information not being covered in this regulation, applicants need to submit required documents to the competent authority and obtain an approval.

Other revisions 

• Polyol is included in the list of substances that need to be warned in the label.

• The labeling method of alcohol information and allergen has some slight changes.

According to the amendment, processed foods that have been distributed must comply with the labeling requirements stated in the amendment before Dec. 31, 2021, except for condensed milk and its analogue. Besides, for labels related to business-to-business food and food additives which already entered the distribution channels shall comply with the corresponding provisions in the amendment within 12 months after the promulgation.