BPOM Registration in Indonesia for Imported Food, Cosmetics and Supplements

Who can hold a BPOM registration for an imported product

Only an Indonesian business entity can hold a BPOM marketing authorisation or cosmetic notification. The foreign brand owner or factory cannot apply directly. Instead, it appoints an Indonesian importer (or, for food, an importer or distributor) through a letter of authorization, and that company becomes the legal holder responsible for the product in Indonesia.

The BPOM rules are consistent on this across categories. For cosmetics, BPOM Regulation 12/2020 states that notification of imported cosmetics is submitted by an importer active in the cosmetics field. For health supplements, BPOM Regulation 32/2022 requires the applicant for imported products to be an importer holding an appointment from the foreign producer. For processed food, BPOM's registration portal lists a letter of appointment (LoA) from the overseas company as a company-account requirement for ML (imported food) registration.

This has a commercial consequence that foreign brands often underestimate: the registration sits in the importer's account and is tied to the appointment letter. If you later change distributor, the product usually has to be re-registered under the new importer, and BPOM will ask the previous importer for clarification first. You have three realistic options:

• Appoint a local distributor as importer and holder. Fastest, but you depend on them.
• Set up your own PT PMA with an import-capable NIB and hold the registrations yourself. More control, more setup time. See our company registration guide.
• Use an importer-of-record arrangement with a licensed Indonesian importer under a written contract. We never offer nominee shareholding; Article 33 of Law 25/2007 makes nominee agreements void.

Importer identity: NIB, API and the right KBLI

The holder needs an NIB issued in OSS that also functions as its importer identification number (API), plus business licensing whose KBLI codes cover importing and distributing the product. For cosmetics and supplements the importer also needs a warehouse that passes a BPOM facility check and a qualified technical responsible person.

Since the OSS system was introduced, the API is no longer a separate licence. The NIB itself acts as the API once the business chooses an importer type during registration: API-U (general importer, for goods that are resold) or API-P (producer importer, for raw materials used in its own production). A company importing finished consumer products for sale normally needs API-U. Only one API type can be selected per NIB, so check this before you start.

Common gaps we find at this stage:

• KBLI in OSS covers only retail or consulting, not wholesale or import of food, cosmetics or supplements. Check yours with the free KBLI 2025 checker.
• The NIB was issued as API-P, which does not suit a trading importer.
• For cosmetics, BPOM Regulation 12/2020 requires importers to obtain a recommendation from the local BPOM office after a facility inspection. The office has 10 working days to inspect and 14 to issue the recommendation.
• For food, the BPOM portal asks importers for NIB, NPWP, a processed food safety management system certificate (SMKPO) and, depending on product risk level, the matching OSS standard certificate or permit.

Which BPOM route applies: ML, cosmetic notification or supplement registration

Imported products follow different BPOM routes depending on category. Packaged food gets an ML number, cosmetics are notified rather than fully registered, and health supplements and traditional medicines go through the stricter OTSK registration with a prefix marking them as imported. Choosing the route correctly decides the document list, fee and timeline.

Two practical points. First, every product, flavour or variant is normally a separate registration, so a range of 12 SKUs means 12 files. Second, borderline products such as a collagen drink or vitamin gummy can change category depending on dose and claims; we settle this before any lab test is paid for.

Documents your foreign principal must provide

The overseas manufacturer or brand owner supplies the core evidence: a signed letter of authorization, a certificate of free sale from its home authority, proof of good manufacturing practice, the full product formula and specifications, and label artwork. Most delays in imported registrations come from these documents, not from BPOM itself.

Legalisation: Indonesia joined the Apostille Convention, with the service live since 4 June 2022, and BPOM Regulation 32/2022 accepts an apostille for supplements from member countries. The 2020 cosmetics rule still refers to legalisation by the Indonesian embassy or consulate. Confirm the accepted form per category before your principal sends anything abroad.

Halal obligations for imported food and cosmetics in October 2026

Imported food and beverages must be halal certified by 17 October 2026 to circulate in Indonesia. From 18 October 2026, under PP 42/2024, the obligation extends to cosmetics, health supplements, traditional medicine, food additives and a wide range of consumer goods. BPOM registration and halal certification are separate processes with separate agencies.

For foreign products there are three routes:

1. Foreign halal certificate from a recognised body. If the manufacturer is certified by a foreign halal body that has a mutual recognition agreement with BPJPH, the importer or official representative registers that certificate in SIHALAL. BPJPH Decree 221/2025 sets the procedure; the registration number stays valid only as long as the foreign certificate.
2. Direct BPJPH certification. If there is no recognised foreign body, the product goes through the regular BPJPH route with an audit by an Indonesian halal inspection body.
3. Non-halal products. BPJPH has stated that non-halal products can still be imported and sold if they carry clear non-halal labelling on the pack.

After the deadline BPJPH applies administrative sanctions, from written warnings to withdrawal from circulation. With weeks left before 17 October, food importers without a halal route should act now; for cosmetics and supplements, run the halal and BPOM files together so names and compositions match.

Process and realistic timeline

In our experience, once the importer is ready and documents are complete, cosmetic notifications take about 14 to 30 working days and processed food 30 to 90; supplements and traditional medicine take longest. Importer onboarding can add several weeks. Most time goes into collecting and correcting documents.

1. Classification and gap check (week 1). We confirm category, risk level, claims and what the principal must send.
2. Importer readiness. NIB with API-U, correct KBLI, warehouse, technical responsible person, BPOM account. For cosmetics, the facility inspection and recommendation described above.
3. Principal documents. LoA, CFS, GMP, formula, CoA, label. Legalisation abroad is often the slowest step; in our experience allow 2 to 6 weeks.
4. Submission and payment. BPOM issues a payment order; under the cosmetics rule, unpaid orders lapse after 7 working days.
5. Evaluation. Cosmetics: result within 14 working days of the product ID, with up to 3 rounds of clarification. Supplements: pre-registration evaluation within 15 working days, then full evaluation. Food: timing depends on the risk level.
6. Number issued, labels finalised. The approved number goes on the Indonesian label before goods are released for sale.

Missing a clarification deadline can cause rejection, and fees paid for rejected cosmetic notifications are not refunded.

Common reasons imported registrations are rejected or delayed

Most imported files are not refused outright; they are returned for clarification. The recurring causes are expired or thinly worded appointment letters, certificates without legalisation, formulas that do not match the label, claims the product data cannot support, and importer licensing that does not cover the product.

• LoA does not grant the right to register, lacks a validity period, or has less than the required time remaining.
• CFS or GMP certificate expired, issued by an unrecognised body, or not legalised or apostilled as required.
• Formula percentages differ between formula sheet, CoA and label.
• Claims such as whitening, slimming, curing or sugar-free without supporting data, or medicinal claims on a cosmetic or food.
• Indonesian label missing mandatory information or inconsistent with the registered name.
• Importer NIB, API type or KBLI does not match the product.
• Another importer already holds an appointment for the same product (supplement rules allow only one appointed importer per product and formula).
• Product name in SIHALAL differs from the BPOM name.

Costs: our fees and official charges

IzinBeres fees depend on the category: cosmetic notification from Rp 3,500,000 per variant, imported processed food (ML) from Rp 9,500,000 per product, health supplements and traditional medicine from Rp 15,000,000. Regular-route halal certification starts from Rp 18,500,000. Official BPOM and BPJPH fees, lab tests, translation and overseas legalisation are separate.

Not included: the official BPOM fee (PNBP), which depends on category and business scale and is quoted separately; BPJPH fees and halal audit charges per the SIHALAL invoice; lab tests, sworn translation and legalisation abroad. The final quote depends on category, variants and your principal's documents. See our price list and our money-back guarantee terms (in Indonesian). We do not promise approval: the decision is BPOM's.

Frequently asked questions

Check your imported product before you ship

Send us your product list, formula and current label. In one free consultation we confirm the BPOM route, who should hold the registration, which documents your principal must provide and the halal route, with a written estimate. WhatsApp +62 856-1963-888 or info@izinberes.com, 7 days a week, 09:00-19:00 WIB.