National Nutrition Agency Temporarily Halts 717 Free Nutritious Meal Centres in Eastern Indonesia
JAKARTA — The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily suspended operations of 717 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) across eastern Indonesia.
This measure has been implemented as part of food safety standard enforcement under the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG), particularly for kitchens that have not yet registered for Hygiene and Sanitation Fitness Certificates (SLHS).
“SPPG facilities that have not registered for SLHS will be suspended temporarily until this requirement is fulfilled,” said Rudi Setiawan, Director of Monitoring and Regional Oversight III at BGN, in a statement on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
Setiawan stated that of the 4,219 registered SPPG units, 2,138 kitchens currently possess SLHS certification.
The unregistered SPPG facilities are distributed across several provinces, including West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and several regions in Papua.
According to Setiawan, SLHS certification is a critical requirement to ensure SPPG facilities meet hygiene and food safety standards for programme beneficiaries.
“This is not merely an enforcement action, but a step to ensure all food preparation processes meet established hygiene and sanitation standards,” he said.
Setiawan added that SLHS certification is an important instrument in maintaining food quality distributed to millions of programme beneficiaries.
“With this certification in place, kitchen operations can be assured to have undergone sanitation fitness inspections by local health authorities,” he stated.
This is reflected in the considerable number of kitchens that already possess SLHS certification or are in the process of obtaining it.
“We encourage all SPPG operators who have not yet registered to immediately obtain SLHS certification through their local health departments. Once the registration process is initiated, we will monitor the process until certification is issued so that operations can proceed in accordance with established standards,” Setiawan said.