BPOM given more powers<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government has resolved the problem of overlapping powers
\nbetween the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Monitoring
\nAgency (BPOM), with the latter finally being given the power to
\nsupervise all foodstuffs and drugs.<\/p>\n
A joint ministerial decree signed by Minister of Health Achmad
\nSujudi and State Minister for Administrative Reform Feisal Tamin
\nsays that the BPOM is responsible for controlling and analyzing
\npharmaceuticals, narcotics, traditional medicines, cosmetics and
\nfoodstuffs, as well as issuing licenses for their distribution.<\/p>\n
The agency is also authorized to monitor the promotion and
\nadvertising of these products, their side effects and information
\nrelated to the products, including their contents.<\/p>\n
The powers to order the withdrawal of products from the market
\nand the destruction of products that violate the law and
\ngovernment regulations are also given to the agency.<\/p>\n
The importing and exporting of food and drug products will
\nalso need a BPOM recommendation before approval will be issued by
\nthe health minister.<\/p>\n
\"Ministry of Health supervision will be restricted to
\nhealthcare facilities and healthcare employees,\" health minister
\nAchmad Sujudi told a media conference held to announce the joint
\nministerial decree on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The policy came into force on the date of its signing, July 4.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the situation regarding the supervision of food and
\ndrugs had been confusing. According to Government Regulation No.
\n72\/1998 on pharmaceutical and healthcare equipment, the health
\nministry was authorized to issue licenses.<\/p>\n
But Presidential Decree No. 103\/2001 on the status, duties,
\nfunctions and powers of state institutions other than ministries,
\nstated that these powers were vested in the BPOM.<\/p>\n
The confusion has forced companies to register pharmaceutical
\nproducts with both institutions. The ambiguities have also been
\nblamed for the increasing number of food and pharmaceutical
\nproducts going on the market using fake licenses.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives health commission had complained
\nabout the confusion as it had prompted the spread of illegal
\ndrugs.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bpom-given-more-powers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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