Responding To BPOM Rules, Doctor Tirta Affirms Influencers May Review Skincare

Doctor Tirta, health influencer (Photo: YouTube/Atta Halilintar)

JAKARTA - Doctor Tirta, a well-known health influencer, responded to the news from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) which prohibits influencers or other parties from announcing product review results carelessly, especially those related to the laboratory results of a product.

BPOM will arrange product reviews, the public is still allowed to review for personal or community purposes. The results of the review can be submitted to BPOM for further investigation if problems are found.

However, Doctor Tirta feels influencers and doctors are allowed to review skin care products. However, there are several conditions that must be met so as not to violate the applicable rules.

Doctor Tirta emphasized that there is no prohibition for influencers or doctors to review skincare products they use or meet on the market. However, if they find irregularities in these products, they are not only enough to review them, but also must report them to BPOM so that they can be followed up immediately.

"We as influencers or doctors if we find irregularities in skincare, it's okay to review it, just report it to BPOM," said Tirta, quoted by VOI from the Atta Halilintar YouTube channel on Saturday, February 8.

He added that with this report, BPOM can take the necessary actions to research and take action against irresponsible producers. This aims to ensure that consumers get products that are safe and in accordance with the claims provided by producers.

Doctor Tirta also explained that influencers who want to review skincare should not provide a final conclusion about the good or bad of a product. This is because the authority to assess the quality and safety of the product remains in the hands of BPOM.

"So, BPOM can make actions and netizens know. It's okay to review, but what determines whether it's bad or not is not an influencer," he said.

According to him, influencers who are consumers also have the right to ensure that the products they use are in accordance with the claims given by the producers. One way is to do laboratory tests on the content in the product.

"For example, Atta Halilintar wants a review of eggs that are claimed to have omega-3. Then, you check in the lab. That's your right, you've bought it, and if it turns out that the eggs don't have omega-3, you have the right to ask questions," he added.

If a product is not in accordance with the claims given, consumers have the right to file a protest. However, there must still be an official report submitted to BPOM so that further action can be taken.

Doctor Tirta also emphasized that criticizing products that did not match claims was not an act of defamation, but a form of protecting consumer rights.

"It's not defamation, it's the right of the community. Only what our BPOM asks us to report. Here is the problem, they have been told to check, tell them to report. It should be the producer who is in control." he said.

Recently, the public has been shocked by the feud between a skincare reviewer known as the Detective Doctor or Doktif and the owner of the skincare brand Shella Saukia. Shella did not accept it because her skincare products received negative reviews from the Doktif.