Accelerating Implementation of Mandatory Labeling for Non-Food Products

Reports indicate that the Ministry of Trade will be accelerating the implementation of the mandatory labeling policy for non-food products under Minister of Trade Regulation No. 62/M-DAG/PER/12/2009 on the Obligation to Attach Labels on Goods.

Whereas products that have not yet been circulated on the market were given until 21 December 2010 to be labeled in compliance with the regulation, the Director of Consumer Protection for the State Ministry of Trade conveyed last week, as quoted from Bisnis Indonesia (12/4), that the date for labeling compliance could be as soon as 1 July 2010. Meanwhile, for products that have been circulating in the market, the date for labeling compliance may be shortened by almost a year, from 21 December 2011, to as soon as 31 December 2010.

The obligation for mandatory labeling is applicable to 103 categories of non-food products, ranging from household electronics to motor vehicles and building materials. Labels must include such information as chemical composition, product standard, potential side effects of use, expiry dates, halal certification, and identity of the producer. Different languages are permitted, but a Bahasa Indonesia version must be included on the label.

Given that Article 9 (1) of the regulation states that products with incomplete or false label information will have to be withdrawn from the market - and that Trading Business Licenses (SIUP) will be revoked if they are not - the acceleration of implementation raises concern for many.

For a brief overview of Minister of Trade Regulation No. 62/M-DAG/PER/12/2009, see ILB No. 1302 4/2/2010.

This Indonesian Legal Brief is based on research conducted by the hukumonline team.