Video: BPOM and Entrepreneurs Collaborate to Combat Illegal Jamu Threat

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - CNBC Indonesia held the Health Forum 2026 on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, themed ‘From Cultural Heritage to Sustainable Jamu Industry’, creating a platform for regulators and industry players to strengthen the development of jamu as Indonesia’s cultural heritage to make it more competitive and relevant in the modern and sustainable health industry.

Deputy Head of BPOM RI’s Traditional Medicine, Health Supplement, and Cosmetics Supervision, Mohamad Kashuri, highlighted challenges in the national jamu industry, including regulatory issues. Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the jamu sector lack understanding of regulations, hindering marketing efforts. Additionally, capital constraints prevent SMEs from scaling up, while production and product innovation aspects are crucial for maintaining quality of Standardised Herbal Medicines (OHT) and appealing to buyers.

PT Phytochemindo Reksa’s President Director, Patrick Kalona, echoed the need for a strengthened ecosystem for Indonesia’s herbal extract industry. Over the past decade, the number of herbal extract companies has grown from six to nearly 22, supporting natural material industries and reducing reliance on imported medicines.

GP Jamu Chairman Jony Yuwono stressed the importance of strengthening the ecosystem for jamu and herbal extract industries to advance, especially since ‘Jamu Healthy Culture’ has been officially recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. To promote jamu consumption, businesses must develop diverse jamu formats for global acceptance. Collaboration between regulators and entrepreneurs is essential to educate the public on jamu’s potential and address illegal jamu issues.