BPOM Assures All Reusable Gallons with Marketing Authorisation and SNI Certification Are Safe for Use

The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has confirmed that all reusable gallons made from polycarbonate (PC) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) currently circulating in the community are safe for use. BPOM stated it continues to strictly monitor the food packaging safety standards of bottled drinking water (AMDK) producers. “Yes, of course they are safe. Those that already have BPOM authorisation are definitely safe, because one of BPOM’s requirements for issuing a licence is that the product already has SNI certification. So all packaging with SNI is safe,” said BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar following a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission VII. The Professor of Pharmacology stated that the safety guarantee comes not only from the SNI certification but also from the strict supervision carried out by BPOM over producers. He added that BPOM inspects the entire production process, including product, factory, and packaging certification. “So we do not just rely on administrative checks; we have empirical data. If the BPOM data is there, it is safe,” he said. Nevertheless, Taruna reminded the public to be meticulous when using any type of drinking water packaging. He asked consumers to check the condition of the packaging, the label, the marketing authorisation, and the expiry date. Consumers must also always store and clean gallons properly before use and refilling to prevent the growth of microorganisms such as mould, bacteria, or parasites. Taruna said that proper storage and cleanliness of the packaging can prevent problems from arising later. Concurrently, BPOM will also educate the public on techniques for storing and cleaning reusable gallons to ensure they are hygienic and undamaged. This is done to ensure food safety at all levels, from producers to consumers. “Because we can only legally penalise the producers. What if the consumers themselves are not careful? That is why this must be concluded with public education,” he said. Generally, reusable gallons of certain brands already have BPOM authorisation and have met the SNI standards. Taruna explained this following issues related to reusable gallons with a long service life. IPB University Professor Suprihatin asserted that the age of a gallon cannot be used as a basis to conclude there is a health threat. The environmental and food safety expert explained that the main issue lies not in the age of the gallon, but in its physical cleanliness and sanitary and microbiological control. “To date, there are no scientific reports showing that reusable gallons cause health impacts solely due to their age of use,” said Prof Suprihatin. The expert stated that health risks actually arise if the gallon is dirty or not cleaned properly. According to him, as long as the gallon meets strict cleanliness and supervision standards, there should be no problem. The Professor from IPB’s Department of Agroindustrial Technology, who specialises in water, said that well-known or established bottled drinking water companies with a reputation generally apply strict standards regarding the use of reusable gallons. He added that these standards cover criteria for service life, physical condition, and chemical and microbiological cleanliness tests before the gallons are redistributed to consumers. “Established AMDK companies generally pay attention to this. This means the company applies strict rules and standards regarding the use of their water packaging,” he said. Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission VII, Saleh Partaonan Daulay, identified at least three forms of fraud that he believes require concrete explanation from BPOM. First, fraud committed by producers themselves for quick profit. Second, fraud committed by other parties using a specific product brand, either as a form of trade competition or to discredit a competitor. Third, the practice of reusing gallons that are no longer fit for use, which, based on findings by the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN), are still found circulating in the market despite regulations prohibiting this. “These dirty gallons, up to five years old, we do not know if this is part of competition or if they are indeed still being used and recycled. Even though the existing regulations clearly prohibit this. BPOM, as the regulator, should have been able to catch this,” he said.