Pharmacy Salt Needs Disrupted Due To Import Stopping In 2025, Head Of BPOM Reveals Impact

Salt (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has banned salt imports starting this year. This is stated in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 126 of 2022 concerning the Acceleration of National Settlement Development.

However, this is considered to have a bad impact, including for the pharmaceutical industry in the country.

The head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Taruna Ikrar also responded to this. He said, there were only two salt producers who had received a certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (CPOB).

Meanwhile, the two producers are considered unable to meet the needs of pharmaceutical salt in the country.

"We also know that currently the majority of pharmaceuticals, such as the manufacture of sodium chloride and so on, are still imported. For domestic areas, we have issued only two component certificates, yes. However, these two industries have not been able to meet their needs (domestic)," Taruna told reporters in the Cilandak area, South Jakarta, Friday, January 24.

He added that there are two other domestic salt producers who are in the process of getting the certificate.

"We want to process these two more. So that the policy of not importing salt, especially (produsen) pharmaceutical salt, can meet domestically," he said.

Regarding the two companies that are being guided by BPOM, Taruna said, their production potential reaches 12,000 tons.

However, to ensure supply availability, he said, at least 10,000 tons of salt per year need to be produced in anticipation if someone does not meet the standards or is wasted.

The cadets are worried that domestic drug needs will run low if the need for pharmaceutical salt cannot be met. This is because medicinal raw materials also require the supply of salt.

"The problem is it's dangerous if we can't do it, this is an essential need. Suddenly there are people who have to be operated, diarrhea and so on, they have to go to the ER without any medicine or salt. What's going on? Right, their dehydration can die," said Taruna.

"Then not only for that, almost all of the drugs must be mixed. The injection drugs, right, are good to mix. This is very important, essential, correct," he continued.

According to the cadets, his party will also coordinate with the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) and the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) in meeting these needs.

It is known, domestic pharmaceutical salt needs reach 6,800 tons per year.

"This is only the beginning of the year. Hopefully by the end of this year everything has been fulfilled. So, we are truly independent nationally. But if not, there must be an emergency door prepared by the state," he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia needs around 6.3 million tons of salt per year, with 2.7 million tons of which are for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.