Prepare for New Import Rules on BPOM-Regulated Goods in Indonesia

BPOM Indonesia (National Agency of Drug and Food Control) is preparing a draft regulation amending BPOM Regulation No. 27 of 2022 on the Supervision of Imports of Drugs and Food into Indonesian Territory. 

The draft aims to strengthen import supervision for regulated products, including drugs, cosmetics, food supplements, and other BPOM-controlled goods. 

It signals stricter controls on Import Certificate (Surat Keterangan Impor/SKI) applications, shelf-life requirements, packaging evidence, HS code classification, supplier documentation, and administrative sanctions. This change aims to make importers more cautious and proactive about potential border rejections. 

With the consultation period now closed on June 19, 2026, importers should review their documents, supplier coordination, shipment planning, and SKI readiness before the final regulation is issued.

Key Takeaways

• BPOM Indonesia’s draft amendment reduces SKI application item limits from 20 to 10 products per application.
• Shelf-life thresholds will tighten, meaning products arriving close to expiry risk rejection at the border.
• Drug imports now require additional packaging evidence; cosmetics face stricter documentation standards.
• SKI Border and SKI Post Border classification errors can delay customs clearance or create post-border liability.
• Importers in the KPBPB, TPB, and KEK zones face new, potentially more favorable SKI treatment.
• Non-compliance with one product may trigger electronic access restrictions across an importer’s entire BPOM-registered portfolio.

What is Changing Under BPOM Indonesia’s Draft Import Rule? 

BPOM’s draft proposes amendments to the import supervision framework for several regulated product categories, including drugs, biological products, traditional medicines, quasi-drugs, health supplements, cosmetics, processed food, and other BPOM-controlled products. 

The proposed changes show a stricter approach to import documentation, shipment planning, and regulatory enforcement. For importers, this means that SKI approval may become more closely connected to product data accuracy, supplier readiness, customs classification, and shelf-life timing. 

Area	Current Position	Proposed Change
SKI item limit per application	Up to 20 items	Reduced to 10 items
Shelf-life thresholds	Standard requirements	Stricter minimum remaining shelf life at the point of import
Document matching	General consistency required	Strict alignment: names, quantities, HS codes, shipment details
Drug import packaging evidence	Not explicitly required	Additional packaging photos and product evidence are mandatory
Cosmetic import documentation	Standard	Expanded: GMP certificates, Letters of Agreement (LoA)
Zone-related SKI treatment	Limited clarity	Specific exemptions for KPBPB, TPB, and KEK zones clarified
Administrative sanctions	Product-level	Broader: Non-compliance may restrict access across the portfolio

Which Importers are Most Exposed to the New Rules? 

Not all importers will be affected in the same way. The draft framework increases exposure for businesses with complex shipments, long supply chains, multiple BPOM-registered products, or documentation that relies heavily on overseas suppliers. 

Importer Profile	Key Risk Area
Importers with 10+ SKIs per shipment	Item limit reduction doubles application volume
Businesses sourcing from Europe, the US, and East Asia	Long lead times clash with tighter shelf-life thresholds
Cosmetic importers with informal supplier arrangements	LoA and GMP certificates are now explicitly required
Drug importers without packaging photo protocols	New packaging evidence requirement creates a documentation gap
Companies with broad BPOM product portfolios	One SKI non-compliance can freeze entire portfolio access
Importers in free trade or bonded zones	Zone-specific SKI treatment has changed; existing practices may no longer apply

SKI Border vs SKI Post Border: Why It Still Matters 

The SKI framework distinguishes between two approval pathways based on product type and HS code classification. 

SKI Type	Product Scope	Compliance Timing
SKI Border	Drugs, traditional medicines, quasi-drugs, health supplements, and cosmetics	Must be fulfilled before customs release
SKI Post Border	Processed food	Can be fulfilled after customs release within the regulated timeframe

The draft amendment also revises HS code-based classification rules and introduces clearer zone-related exemptions. 

Importers using classification practices from previous years should reconfirm whether their current HS codes still assign the correct SKI type under the updated framework by consulting the latest HS code guidelines or contacting BPOM for clarification.

When Shelf Life Becomes an Import Risk Under BPOM New Rules 

Under BPOM Indonesia’s proposed amendment, the remaining shelf life is checked upon the product’s arrival in Indonesia, not when the product is manufactured or when the SKI application is submitted. 

This means importers must plan around the full shipment timeline, including: 

• Production date and expiry date 
• Export customs clearance 
• Ocean or air freight lead time 
• Indonesian customs processing 
• SKI approval process 

A product may still meet the shelf-life requirement when it is shipped, but fail by the time it reaches Indonesian customs. This creates a higher risk for importers with long supply chains, especially those that source from Europe, the US, or East Asia. 

Importers should review worst-case shipping timelines against BPOM’s shelf-life requirements before the final rule is issued.

READ MORE:

• HS Code Indonesia: How to Get Import Permits Approved Without Delays
• Imported Snacks in Indonesia: How the Import Process Really Works
• Lartas Indonesia: Restricted Product List & Import Licensing Requirements

Supplier Documents Importers Should Prepare 

BPOM’s draft rule may require importers to coordinate more documents with overseas manufacturers before shipment. Key areas to prepare include: 

Drug Imports 

Packaging photos and product evidence must now accompany the SKI application. This requires coordination with overseas manufacturers before shipment confirmation, not after. 

Cosmetic Imports 

GMP certificates from the country of manufacture and a Letter of Agreement (LoA) with the overseas principal are now explicitly required for documentation. Informal supplier relationships or outdated GMP certificates create immediate gaps. 

All Categories 

Product names, quantities, HS codes, and shipment details must match exactly across the invoice, SKI application, and customs declaration. A mismatch at any point increases the risk of rejection. 

The practical implication is that document readiness must be confirmed before the shipment of the booking, not discovered at customs clearance. 

Import Compliance Checklist for Importers 

Before the final regulation is issued, importers should review: 

• SKI Application Capacity: Can your team manage more SKI applications if the item limit is reduced? 
• Shelf-Life Planning: Have production dates, expiry dates, shipping lead times, and approval timelines been mapped together? 
• Supplier Document Readiness: Are current CoAs, GMP certificates, LoAs, and packaging photos available from overseas manufacturers? 
• Invoice and Customs Document Consistency: Do product names, quantities, HS codes, and shipment details match across all documents? 
• HS Code Classification: Does the HS code correctly determine SKI Border, SKI Post Border, or zone exemption treatment? 
• Zone Treatment: Do imports into free trade zones, bonded areas, or special zones still require SKI under the proposed framework? 
• Sanction Exposure: If one product fails, could it disrupt electronic access to the company’s broader BPOM product portfolio?

How InCorp Indonesia Can Help with BPOM Import Compliance 

InCorp Indonesia (an Ascentium Company) supports businesses with BPOM import readiness, SKI documentation review, product classification checks, supplier document coordination, and regulatory compliance preparation. 

Our support can help businesses: 

• Review SKI application requirements. 
• Check BPOM documentation readiness. 
• Assess shelf-life and shipment planning risks. 
• Review customs and HS code alignment. 
• Coordinate with overseas manufacturers. 
• Prepare for BPOM regulatory changes. 

Start preparing your import compliance before the final rule takes effect. Talk to our team by filling out the form below.

Frequently Asked Questions