BPOM States Nutri Level is Initial Step to Control GGL Consumption

The government, through the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), states that the policy of including nutritional labelling in the form of Nutri Level is an initial step to control sugar, salt, and fat (GGL) consumption in society. In the future, the government is committed to continuously strengthening that policy.

Sofhiani Dewi from the Directorate of Food Standardisation at BPOM said the government does not rule out the possibility of establishing stronger policies, such as warning labels on packaged food products. According to her, the strengthening of that policy also has the potential to be realised in a relatively short time because there is now a legal umbrella in the form of Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health and Government Regulation (PP) No. 28 of 2024.

“So it won’t take up to seven years, for example, no. Because now we already have a legal umbrella in the form of the law and PP, unlike before when there was no legal umbrella,” said Sofhiani in a virtual discussion held by CISDI some time ago.

She emphasised that the government is not standing idly by in the face of the high number of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), one of which is triggered by excessive GGL consumption. One initial and strategic step being taken at present is issuing the Nutri Level labelling policy, which is also a form of implementation of Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health.

Sofhiani stressed that the government does not side with business actors and prioritises public health. However, according to her, in implementing a policy, the government needs to consider it comprehensively.

“If it’s said that we tend to side with businesspeople, of course that’s not the case. Because if the policy is immediately strict, there’s a fear that many business actors won’t be able to keep up with the time to do reformulation, then factories collapse and new economic problems arise,” she said.

Sofhiani stated that through Nutri Level, the government is currently prioritising education for the public. With increasing consumer awareness in choosing healthier food, it is hoped that producers will adjust their products to market demand.

“If the public becomes increasingly educated and starts choosing healthier products, then automatically it will become a consideration for producers. This education needs to be carried out by various parties, from the government, academics, to the public,” she said.