1. Background
On 5 January 2026, the Government of Indonesia enacted Government Regulation No. 1 of 2026 on Food Safety (GR 1/2026). This regulation constitutes a significant amendment to Government Regulation No. 86 of 2019 on Food Safety (GR 86/2019), which served as the main implementing regulation of Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food, as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 (Omnibus Law on Job Creation).
GR 1/2026 is designed to strengthen the national food safety regime, improve inter‑agency coordination, and address regulatory fragmentation across different categories of food products and supply chains.
GR 1/2026 applies broadly to food safety governance across the entire food supply chain, from production and processing to distribution and consumption, including emergency response mechanisms.
2. Key regulatory changes introduced by GR 1/2026
2.1 Reallocation and clarification of institutional authority
One of the most important changes under GR 1/2026 is the clearer division of supervisory authority across government institutions, which was previously a source of overlap under GR 86/2019. The regulation formally distinguishes responsibility based on food categories, which in general:
- National Agency of Drug and Food Control (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan/BPOM)
– Supervises industrially produced packaged and processed food - Ministry of Health
– Supervises ready‑to‑eat food and ready‑to‑drink food, particularly from a public health and disease‑prevention perspective - Regional governments
– Supervises for home‑industry food products (industri rumah tangga pangan/IRTP) - Sectoral ministries (e.g. Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, National Food Agency)
– Supervises fresh food of animal, fishery, and plant origin.
This categorical allocation is intended to reduce duplicative inspections and conflicting standards, while ensuring end‑to‑end food safety oversight.
2.2 Strengthening of integrated food safety supervision
GR 1/2026 introduces a more integrated and coordinated supervision model, requiring cross‑institutional collaboration rather than siloed enforcement.
Key features include:
- Mandatory data and information exchange among authorities
- Coordination of inspection results and risk assessments
- Harmonised enforcement actions where food products intersect multiple regulatory domains
This framework is particularly relevant for products that shift categories during their lifecycle (e.g. semi‑processed to ready‑to‑eat foods).
2.3 Enhanced emergency and crisis management framework
GR 1/2026 significantly strengthens provisions on food safety emergencies, including contamination outbreaks or large‑scale foodborne illness incidents.
Notable changes:
- The Central Government, coordinated through the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs, is formally mandated to lead national‑level responses
- Clearer procedures for rapid coordination across ministries, BPOM, and regional governments
- Enhanced mechanisms for public warnings, product recalls, and corrective actions
This represents an upgrade from GR 86/2019, which did not clearly designate a single coordinating authority during food safety crises.
3. Implications for businesses and stakeholders
3.1 Increased regulatory scrutiny across multiple authorities
Businesses may be subject to different regulators depending on the food category, even within the same supply chain. For example:
- A manufacturer of packaged beverages may fall under BPOM
- Products sold as ready‑to‑drink at outlets may attract Ministry of Health oversight
- Distribution channels may involve regional governments
This increases the need for integrated compliance management.
3.2 Higher compliance expectations in product classification
Incorrect classification of food products (e.g. processed vs. ready‑to‑eat) may trigger regulatory exposure, including inspections by the wrong authority or non‑compliance findings. Accurate classification is therefore critical.
3.3 Greater exposure during food safety incidents
With clearer emergency powers and coordination, authorities are now better positioned to:
- Order recalls
- Suspend activities
- Impose administrative sanctions swiftly
Reputational risk and operational disruption in food safety incidents may therefore increase.
4. Conclusion
GR 1 of 2026 represents a material reform of Indonesia’s food safety regime. Businesses in the food sector should treat this regulation as a strategic compliance trigger, not merely a technical amendment.
Clients operating in the food and beverage sector should reassess product categorisation to ensure alignment with the competent authority under GR 1/2026, review compliance frameworks holistically by integrating BPOM, Ministry of Health and regional requirements into a single internal system, update crisis and recall management protocols to enable faster cross-agency responses to food safety incidents, closely monitor forthcoming implementing regulations and technical guidance from relevant authorities, and coordinate supply chain compliance to ensure that suppliers, co-manufacturers, and distributors meet the applicable safety standards for their respective roles.
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