BPOM Takes Firm Action Against 8 Cosmetic Products with Misleading and Unethical Claims
Indonesia’s Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has officially taken action against eight cosmetic products found to be using misleading benefit claims and violating ethical norms.
Based on intensive monitoring, these products were discovered to be promoting exaggerated benefits unsupported by scientific evidence.
BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar emphasised that the agency would not tolerate business actors employing manipulative marketing strategies. “BPOM will not tolerate any business actors who deliberately exploit sensitive issues and consumer vulnerabilities through misleading cosmetic promotions that violate ethical norms,” Taruna Ikrar said on Wednesday (18 March).
BPOM highlighted the prevalence of excessive language that goes beyond the basic function of cosmetics. Some of these products claimed to be capable of tightening and enlarging breasts, preventing vaginal discharge, and tightening intimate organs.
Beyond being sensational and medically unproven, such promotional narratives were deemed to damage public ethical standards. As a follow-up, BPOM has released a list of products involved to help the public remain cautious.
In response to these findings, BPOM has instructed the business actors concerned to immediately withdraw the products from the market and carry out comprehensive destruction. This instruction applies not only to the physical products but also to marketing activities.
Business actors are required to cease all forms of promotion in both conventional and digital media. This firm step was taken as a preventive measure to ensure that products with similar claims do not return to circulation and harm the public.
Closing his statement, Taruna Ikrar emphasised the importance of active public participation in becoming critical consumers amid the barrage of digital advertising. He warned the public not to be easily enticed by unrealistic beauty promises.
“Society needs to be more selective and not easily tempted by sensational claims,” he said.
As a self-protection measure, BPOM again reminded the importance of the Check CLICK scheme for verifying product legitimacy.