BPOM given more powers
BPOM given more powers
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government has resolved the problem of overlapping powers
between the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Monitoring
Agency (BPOM), with the latter finally being given the power to
supervise all foodstuffs and drugs.
A joint ministerial decree signed by Minister of Health Achmad
Sujudi and State Minister for Administrative Reform Feisal Tamin
says that the BPOM is responsible for controlling and analyzing
pharmaceuticals, narcotics, traditional medicines, cosmetics and
foodstuffs, as well as issuing licenses for their distribution.
The agency is also authorized to monitor the promotion and
advertising of these products, their side effects and information
related to the products, including their contents.
The powers to order the withdrawal of products from the market
and the destruction of products that violate the law and
government regulations are also given to the agency.
The importing and exporting of food and drug products will
also need a BPOM recommendation before approval will be issued by
the health minister.
"Ministry of Health supervision will be restricted to
healthcare facilities and healthcare employees," health minister
Achmad Sujudi told a media conference held to announce the joint
ministerial decree on Thursday.
The policy came into force on the date of its signing, July 4.
Earlier, the situation regarding the supervision of food and
drugs had been confusing. According to Government Regulation No.
72/1998 on pharmaceutical and healthcare equipment, the health
ministry was authorized to issue licenses.
But Presidential Decree No. 103/2001 on the status, duties,
functions and powers of state institutions other than ministries,
stated that these powers were vested in the BPOM.
The confusion has forced companies to register pharmaceutical
products with both institutions. The ambiguities have also been
blamed for the increasing number of food and pharmaceutical
products going on the market using fake licenses.
The House of Representatives health commission had complained
about the confusion as it had prompted the spread of illegal
drugs.