Lacking Hygienic Certificates, 492 SPPG in Sumatra Temporarily Closed

Some 492 Satuan Pelayanan Pemenuhan Gizi (SPPG) in Sumatra have been temporarily closed. The closures were taken because hundreds of kitchens have not registered the Sertifikat Laik Higiene dan Sanitasi (SLHS).

Temporary closures will commence on 9 March 2026 and continue indefinitely. Director of Monitoring and Supervision, Region I, Harjito, said all SPPG that have been operating must comply with hygiene and sanitation standards, including through the SLHS registration and verification process at the local health offices.

“This suspension is a corrective measure to ensure all operating kitchens fully meet health and food safety standards,” Harjito said in a statement on Saturday, 7 March 2026.

Harjito stressed that the closures apply to kitchens that have been operating for more than 30 days but have not registered SLHS. The data of 492 SPPG that have not registered SLHS comprise a compilation of reports from the Regional Coordinator for Sumatra who has conducted direct monitoring of MBG kitchens in each province.

“We are giving all SPPG the opportunity to complete administrative and sanitation standards promptly. After registration and verification are completed, operations can reopen,” he added.

Harjito noted that the provinces with the highest number of unregistered SLHS are in North Sumatra with 252 kitchens, Lampung 77, Aceh 76, West Sumatra 69, Riau 9, the Riau Islands 5, and Bengkulu 4. Meanwhile Jambi, South Sumatra, and the Bangka Belitung Islands recorded no kitchens with unregistered SLHS.

Harjito added that the suspension policy is part of efforts to strengthen quality oversight of the MBG service programme targeting community nutrition, especially schoolchildren. He urged MBG operators affected to coordinate promptly with local health offices to accelerate SLHS registration.

“This programme concerns public health, so food safety standards must not be negotiable,” he said.

“We hope SPPG can quickly complete the required requirements so services can resume and the benefits of the MBG programme can continue to be felt by the community,” he added.