BPOM strengthens food packaging safety to prevent chemical migration
Jakarta (ANTARA) - BPOM has issued BPOM Regulation No. 11 of 2026 on Food Packaging as an effort to strengthen public health protection through oversight of food safety risks that may originate from food packaging.
Head of BPOM Taruna Ikrar said in Jakarta on Monday that food safety is determined not only by the quality of raw materials and production processes, but also by the safety of packaging that comes into direct contact with food. Packaging that does not meet requirements can release certain chemical substances into food through a process called migration, which poses risks to consumer health.
“Food packaging is not merely a wrapper, but is a part that greatly determines the safety of a food product. Through BPOM Regulation No. 11 of 2026, we want to ensure that every packaging that comes into contact with food meets safety standards so that the public is protected from exposure to hazardous substances,” he said.
Through this regulation, every business operator producing packaged food is required to use packaging materials that are safe and do not endanger health. The provisions apply to various types of commonly used packaging materials, ranging from plastic, rubber and elastomers, paper and cardboard, ceramics, glass, metals and metal alloys, to multilayer packaging.
In addition to regulating packaging materials, BPOM Regulation No. 11 of 2026 also provides certainty regarding food contact substances that may be used. Only food contact substances that have been assessed as safe by BPOM are permitted for use in food packaging.
The regulation also accommodates support for the circular economy through provisions on the use of reusable packaging and packaging made from recycled materials.
BPOM emphasised that both types of packaging may still be used as long as they meet all safety requirements, including migration limits and good manufacturing practice provisions. Thus, the use of environmentally friendly packaging can continue without reducing public health protection.
Taruna stressed that the successful implementation of this regulation requires the commitment of all stakeholders, from food packaging manufacturers, the food industry, testing laboratories, to the public as consumers.
For the public, he said, the presence of BPOM Regulation No. 11 of 2026 provides a stronger guarantee that the food packaging used has met safety standards to minimise health risks.
Meanwhile, for business operators, this regulation serves as a reference that provides certainty regarding food packaging materials and food contact substances that may be used, the obligation to ensure safety aspects before products are distributed, and mechanisms for assessing the use of new materials.
Through this regulation, BPOM is also strengthening the food supervision system. With increasingly comprehensive standards, the national food industry is expected to produce products that are safer, of higher quality, and more competitive, while increasing public trust in the food consumed every day.
Further information regarding BPOM Regulation No. 11 of 2026 and technical provisions can be obtained through BPOM’s official channel at https://jdih.pom.go.id/.