BPOM Targets Addition of 17 Implementation Units to Strengthen Oversight of Free Nutritious Meals and Red-White Village Cooperatives

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has announced plans to add 17 new Implementation Units (UPT) in 2026 to support the Success of the Fast Results Programme (PHTC) for Free Nutritious Meals and Red-White Village Cooperatives.

BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that the agency currently operates 83 units, up from 76 units in 2025. The addition of 17 new units would bring the total to 100. Under Presidential Regulation Number 115 regarding the Free Nutritious Meals Programme, BPOM holds the authority to oversee the safety of food served.

“If our technical implementation units remain at current levels, we will find it difficult to oversee more than 30,000 food service units or nutrition service facilities (SPPG),” Taruna said.

Additionally, there are approximately 83,000 Red-White Village Cooperatives, of which around 54,000 operate pharmacies or medicine shops.

“If we do not oversee those 54,000 cooperatives, it could become a significant problem in the future, which is why BPOM is well justified in expanding its capacity,” he added.

Taruna further noted that the expansion of UPT is also driven by additional responsibilities assigned to Indonesia. He mentioned that the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has entrusted Indonesia with the authority to certify products free from radioactive substances.

“Our hope is to eventually reach 100 units, and even aspire to reach around 200 UPT in the future. However, this must develop gradually as it requires many important conditions to be met,” he said.

Previously, member of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission IX Rahmawati Herdian called for strict oversight of the Free Nutritious Meals programme, initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, to ensure its implementation is properly targeted and genuinely improves the nutritional quality of the population.

“Certainly, strict oversight of the Free Nutritious Meals programme by relevant parties is essential to ensure field implementation is properly targeted,” she said in Bandar Lampung on Sunday (16 February).

According to her, the Free Nutritious Meals programme represents a strategic step by the government in addressing the persistent challenge of malnutrition that remains a significant issue across various regions in Indonesia.