Weekly Roundup: 1,276 Nutrition Service Units Suspended and Unauthorised Skin Boosters in Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A selection of notable news from the past week (14-19 September) is presented here, ranging from the suspension of ,1276 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) to the discovery that viral ‘cadaver skin’ skin boosters from South Korea lack authorisation in Indonesia.

1.) National Nutrition Agency suspends 1,276 SPPG and proposes permanent closure of 654 Free Nutritious Meal kitchens

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has taken decisive action to ensure the safety and quality of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Programme by suspending the operations of 1,276 Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) that have failed to meet Hygiene and Sanitation Certificate (SLHS) requirements. Of the 1,276 temporarily halted SPPG, 821 are still in the process of SLHS registration, 447 have applied but failed to meet eligibility and feasibility standards, and 8 have unconfirmed SLHS status.

2.) 5 undergraduate majors with the highest job competition

Choosing a university major is a critical consideration for prospective students as it relates to competence and employment opportunities. However, several highly sought-after majors are recorded as dominating the unemployment figures among university graduates. Based on a report from the Institute for Economic and Social Research of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI), which processed data from the August 2025 National Labour Force Survey (Sakernas), several fields of study are most prevalent among unemployed bachelor’s degree holders.

3.) BPOM: Viral South Korean hADM skin booster lacks authorisation in Indonesia

The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) has responded to the trend of skin booster products containing Human Acellular Dermal Matrix (hADM)—often referred to as being derived from ‘cadaver skin’—which is widely used in South Korea, stating that the product is not authorised in Indonesia. The Head of BPOM, Taruna Ikrar, stated in Jakarta on Friday that the product has not received approval, is not registered, and is not circulating in Indonesia. The agency is currently conducting a thorough investigation through Deputy 1 (Drug, Narcotics, Psychotropics, Precursors, and Addictive Substances Oversight) and Deputy 4 (Enforcement).

4.) SAR search for journalists expanded to 8,509 square nautical miles on day 10

Basarnas has further expanded the search area for the group of journalists and crew of the fast boat KM Arupadatu I, which lost contact in the Sunda Strait, to 8,509 square nautical miles (NM²) on the tenth day, Thursday, up from 3,439 NM² on the ninth day. The Head of Operations for the Banten SAR Office, Rizky Dwianto, at the Main Joint SAR Post in Carita Beach, Pandeglang, stated on Thursday that the expansion of the sweeping area on day 10—the third day of the extended SAR operation—is divided into 10 main sectors in hopes of increasing the likelihood of finding the search objects.

5.) 18 national holidays and 8 collective leave days for 2027 announced

The government, through the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK), has established 18 national holidays and eight collective leave days for 2027. “We have agreed that the number of national holidays in 2027 will be 18 days, the majority of which are religious, and the number of collective leave days in 2027 will be eight days,” said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, in Jakarta on Tuesday.