Recently, a number of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) were summoned by the police. They were summoned because the MSME products they sold did not have a distribution permit from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM). This incident became a hot topic of conversation after one netizen who owns a frozen food business was suddenly called by the police because his product did not have a distribution permit.
Many do not know that there are a number of food products that must have a distribution permit from BPOM. This provision is regulated in the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency Regulation No. 27/2017 on the Registration of Processed Food. It explains that every processed food produced domestically or imported for trade in retail packaging must have a distribution permit. A distribution permit is also required for several types of food such as fortified food, mandatory SNI food, government program food, food intended for market testing, and food additives (BTP).
However, there are exceptions for a number of food products. The following is a list of food products that do not need a BPOM distribution permit:
1. Processed Food from Home Industries
Processed food products produced by the home industry are not required to have a BPOM distribution permit.
2. Processed Food with a Shelf Life of Less than 7 Days
Processed food products that have a shelf life of less than 7 days also do not require a BPOM distribution permit.
3. Processed Food Imported in Small Quantities
Processed food products imported in small quantities for purposes such as samples, research, or self-consumption also do not need an NA-DFC distribution permit.
4. Processed Food Used as Raw Materials
Processed food products that are used as raw materials and not sold directly to end consumers do not require an NA-DFC distribution permit.
5. Processed Food Packaged in Large Quantities
Processed food products that are packaged in bulk and not sold directly to end consumers are also exempt from the NA-DFC distribution permit.
6. Food Packaged in Front of the Buyer
Food products that are sold and packaged directly in front of the buyer in small quantities according to consumer demand also do not need an NA-DFC distribution permit.
7. Ready-to-eat Food
Ready-to-eat food products also do not need an NA-DFC distribution permit.
8. Food with Minimal Processing (Post-Harvest)
Food that only undergoes minimal processing such as washing, peeling, drying, grinding, cutting, salting, freezing, mixing, and/or blanching and without the addition of BTP, except BTP for coating, also does not require an NA-DFC distribution permit.
Previously, BPOM had provided an explanation regarding the distribution permit for frozen food products. The Head of BPOM, Penny K Lukito, stated that not all frozen food products must have a BPOM license. Frozen food products that have a shelf life of more than 7 days must have a BPOM permit. However, if the food product cannot be stored for less than 7 days, it does not require a BPOM permit. Instead, the product needs a distribution permit from the health department called Pangan Industri Rumah Tangga (PIRT).
Therefore, it is important to include the production date and expiration date on frozen food products. With this information, consumers can choose frozen food products that suit their needs. For MSME players who receive orders and directly deliver their products to customers, they do not need a BPOM distribution permit.
In running a food business, an understanding of the distribution permit requirements is very important. By knowing the types of food products that require distribution permits and those that do not, MSME players can avoid unwanted legal problems and maintain the quality of their products. Hopefully this information is useful for all food businesses in Indonesia.
