The Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Administration (BPOM RI) Taruna Ikrar and Associate Commissioner, Office of Global Policy and Strategy of the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) Mark Abdoo have officially signed the Confidentiality Commitment (CC) on 15 April 2026,
a strategic step to maintain the sustainability of Indonesian spice exports to the US.
Spices exported from Indonesia reached US$45.9 million in 2024. This high export value emphasizes the importance of maintaining trust and smooth market access through a credible monitoring system.
Maintaining market trust must be balanced with a strong commitment to providing products with good safety and quality. Oversight of product supply is a crucial aspect that must be monitored. The need for strengthened oversight arose after the discovery of radioactive cesium-137 contamination in Indonesian clove products in August 2025. This finding prompted the US FDA to issue Import Alert 99-51 and Import Alert 99-52, as well as a detention mechanism without physical examination (DWPE). This situation requires stricter product safety assurance before entering the US market.
Mark Abdoo said, “We hope that the exchange of information between BPOM and the US FDA will be further strengthened after this confidentiality commitment was agreed upon.”
Through the signing of the CC, the BPOM and the US FDA strengthened their collaboration in the exchange of non-public information. This also supports BPOM’s role as a Certifying Entity (CE) in issuing shipment – specific certificates (SSC) for spice commodities. This collaboration also represents a strategic step in strengthening Indonesia’s position as a trusted partner in the global supply chain.
“BPOM’s CE designation reflects the US FDA’s growing confidence in Indonesia’s regulatory system. Furthermore, BPOM and the US FDA now both hold WHO-Listed Authority (WLA) status. We adhere to the same global standards,” explained Taruna Ikrar.
BPOM also received a US FDA delegation for an in-country verification visit, to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of the certification system implemented by BPOM, including a review of production facilities, scanning and sampling processes, sample testing in the laboratory, and the SSC evaluation and issuance mechanism.
Since the implementation of the SSC scheme in October 2025 until the end of April 2026, the BPOM has processed more than 2,000 applications and issued 304 certificates to 20 companies, with an economic value of approximately US$3 billion. The SSC is a crucial instrument for ensuring product safety while ensuring the smooth flow of Indonesian exports to the global market. As part of its implementation, the BPOM has prepared comprehensive technical guidelines covering inspections of production facilities, radiation scanning, laboratory testing, and the issuance of certificates per shipment.
For businesses, particularly exporters of spices, processed foods, and health supplements, this collaboration offers strategic benefits in the form of easier market access to the US, and broader and more sustainable export opportunities. This has also boosted confidence in Indonesian products in the global market.
