BPOM Facilitates Cosmetic Permits for MSMEs, Safety Standards Not Reduced

JAKARTA - The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency will accelerate the licensing of micro, small, and medium-sized cosmetic products in rural areas. However, this ease will not be paid for by lowering safety standards.

Head of BPOM Taruna Ikrar said that this step was prepared to support the development of the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative. According to Taruna, the submission of cosmetic product permits from business actors is quite a lot.

"We will make it easier to get a permit, but the safety standards cannot be lowered," said Taruna at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 15.

BPOM is looking for ways to reduce the process time without reducing the examination of product safety.

"We want to speed up. We want to help this program succeed," he said.

Taruna has not explained the form of facilities that will be provided, including whether there is a simplification of documents, special assistance, or a separate service channel for MSMEs.

When asked if there were many permit applications, he answered briefly, "There are many."

On the other hand, BPOM ensures that imported cosmetics are not a priority in the Red and White Cooperative. The program will be more directed towards domestic products.

However, different policies may apply to pharmaceutical products. Taruna admitted that the national pharmaceutical industry still depends heavily on imported raw materials.

"Of course not, more focus on our domestic products. But if we talk about pharmaceutical products, the majority of the raw materials are still imported," he said.

According to Taruna, further discussion is still waiting for the President's direction. Ease of permits for MSMEs is important so that village products can enter the market faster. However, BPOM must still ensure that this acceleration does not open a gap for cosmetics with dangerous ingredients.