717 Free Nutritious Meal Programme Kitchens Yet to Register Hygiene Certificates; BGN Prepares Suspension Sanctions
The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) will temporarily suspend the operations of 717 Nutritional Service Fulfilment Units (SPPG) across Region III that have not yet registered for Food Safety and Hygiene Certificates (SLHS). This policy is part of efforts to enforce food safety standards in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG).
Based on BGN Region III monitoring data, of the total 4,219 registered SPPG units, 2,138 kitchens have already obtained SLHS certification, whilst 1,364 kitchens are still in the process of registration. A further 717 kitchens have not registered at all.
The unregistered SPPG units are scattered across several provinces, including West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and several areas in Papua.
Rudi Setiawan, Director of Monitoring and Supervision for BGN Region III, emphasised that possession of SLHS is an important requirement to ensure SPPG units meet hygiene and food safety standards for programme beneficiaries.
“SPPG units that have not registered for SLHS will be temporarily suspended until this requirement is fulfilled. This is not merely punitive action, but a step to ensure that all food provision processes meet the established hygiene and sanitation standards,” said Rudi in Jakarta on Thursday (12 March).
According to him, SLHS serves as an important instrument in maintaining the quality of food distributed to millions of programme beneficiaries. Through this certification, kitchen operations are verified to have passed sanitation compliance inspections by local health authorities.
BGN has also noted that the majority of SPPG units have demonstrated commitment to meeting these standards. This is reflected in the high number of kitchens that have already obtained SLHS or are in the registration process.
“We encourage all SPPG managers who have not yet registered to immediately obtain SLHS through their local health departments. Once the registration process is undertaken, we will monitor until the certificate is issued so that operations can proceed according to standards,” Rudi concluded.