National Food Agency and Ministry of Trade Strengthen Food Safety Oversight
The National Food Agency (Bapanas), in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag), is strengthening food safety oversight against the threat of pesticide residues through cross-sector collaboration to ensure that fresh food is safe and meets public consumption standards.
“On Food Safety Day, we signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Trade regarding the assurance of food safety in accordance with our respective duties and functions,” stated Andriko Noto Susanto, Deputy for Consumption Diversification and Food Safety at Bapanas, in Jakarta on Monday.
He noted that these efforts are crucial as food safety is a vital aspect of maintaining public health, requiring every food product to meet safety protocols before reaching consumers. Andriko emphasised that safe food must be healthy for consumption and free from various types of contamination, whether chemical, biological, or physical, which could potentially endanger health.
A primary concern for the government currently is the threat of chemical contamination in the form of pesticide residues exceeding permissible limits, which can render food unsafe for consumption. He added that controlling pesticide residues is a vital component of the food safety system, as it directly relates to protecting consumer health and the sustainability of the national food sector.
According to Bapanas, the economic losses resulting from unsafe food on an international scale reach approximately 310 trillion US dollars, highlighting that food safety is a significant global issue. In commemoration of World Food Safety Day on 7 June, Bapanas organised a series of activities aimed at strengthening the oversight system and increasing stakeholder awareness.
In addition to the signing of the cooperation agreement, Bapanas handed over mobile food safety laboratory facilities to several provincial governments to support broader food testing and monitoring. Furthermore, regional competent food safety authority certificates were distributed as part of the effort to strengthen regional institutional capacity.
Bapanas explained that food safety oversight is conducted in an integrated manner: plant-based fresh food falls under the authority of Bapanas, animal-based products under the Ministry of Agriculture, and fish-based products under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). The central government, through central competent food safety authorities, works alongside regional authorities that undergo annual certification and evaluation.
As a measure of success, the national fresh food safety index for 2025 is projected to reach over 61 points, exceeding the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) target of 60, supporting the realisation of Indonesia’s Golden Generation 2045.
Moga Simatupang, Director General of Consumer Protection and Trade Order at the Ministry of Trade, reaffirmed that food safety plays a vital role in public health and must be monitored continuously by all relevant parties. He stated that the Ministry of Trade, through the Directorate General of PKTN, is tasked with overseeing the circulation of goods, including consumer protection aspects related to the safety and quality of food received by the public. He added that the Ministry is supported by laboratory facilities and certification systems to ensure that circulating food products meet applicable safety standards.