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Indonesia market landscape · Processed food

Processed food market and BPOM registration in Indonesia

196,642 active processed food and beverage products registered in Indonesia
59,338 added in the past year (+19% vs the year before).
Imported
30%
of registered products
Year-on-year
+19%
new registrations
Top-10 share
0%
held by the 10 largest

Registrations per year

2021: 26,0612026: 27,677

Local vs imported

70% local30% imported

How long does processed food registration take? →

Regulator
BPOM
Type
Distribution license (izin edar)
Codes
MD, ML
Validity
5 years

Processed food and beverages need a BPOM distribution license before they can be sold. The number appears on the pack as BPOM RI MD for products made in Indonesia, or BPOM RI ML for imported products. The license is valid for five years.

Imported food carries two extra documents on top of the core dossier: an appointment letter from the manufacturer and a health certificate from the country of origin. Halal certification is mandatory for food and beverages, with imported products facing the 17 October 2026 deadline under GR 42/2024.

How registration works

  1. Appoint a local license holder
    Imported food (ML) must be registered by a company established in Indonesia.
  2. Prepare the dossier
    Product composition, label, and for imported food an appointment letter plus a health certificate from the country of origin.
  3. Submit to BPOM and test samples
    Physical samples are commonly required for laboratory testing during the review.
  4. Receive the MD or ML number
    The distribution license is valid for five years before renewal.

What you need

  • A local license holder for imported (ML) products.
  • Appointment letter from the manufacturer and a health certificate from the country of origin (imported food).
  • Product composition and compliant Indonesian-language labelling.
  • Halal certification, mandatory for food and beverages (imported deadline 17 October 2026).

Reading a BPOM number

The prefix on a registration number tells you the product type and, for many categories, whether it was made in Indonesia or imported.

PrefixProduct typeWhat it means
NA, NB, NC, ND, NECosmeticNotification. The second letter is the region of manufacture: A Asia (incl. Indonesia), B Australia, C Europe, D Africa, E the Americas.
NKCosmeticOlder cosmetic registration scheme.
MDProcessed foodProduced in Indonesia (dalam negeri).
MLProcessed foodImported (luar negeri).
SD, SIHealth supplementSD produced domestically, SI imported.
TR, TITraditional medicineJamu and herbal products. TR domestic, TI imported.
DK, DBL, DTL, GKLPharmaceutical drugMarketing authorization (izin edar / NIE). The class letters mark over-the-counter, limited, or prescription status.
AKD, AKLMedical deviceRegistered with the Ministry of Health, not BPOM. AKD domestic, AKL imported.
PKD, PKLHousehold (PKRT)Household and personal-care products, regulated by the Ministry of Health. PKD domestic, PKL imported.
Registering processed food and beverage products in Indonesia? Talk to our Indonesia team.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an MD and ML number?

MD marks processed food produced in Indonesia; ML marks imported food. Both are BPOM distribution licenses valid for five years.

What extra documents do imported foods need?

Imported food needs an appointment letter from the manufacturer and a health certificate from the country of origin, in addition to the standard dossier.

Is halal certification required for food?

Yes. Halal is mandatory for food and beverages. Imported food and beverage products face the 17 October 2026 deadline under GR 42/2024.

Data sourced from BPOM, updated daily. BPOM registration with Emerhub.