Asia-Pacific Update: Indonesia Cosmetics

By: To Yo Be, Contributing Author and Consultant

Posted: September 19, 2012

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A foreign company trying to register its product in Indonesia may face numerous obstacles, the first of which is translation. Translation into Indonesia’s national language, Bahasa Indonesia, is required on labels, and this translation may result in a deviation from original intention. In addition, the Ministry of Trade also applies Indonesian National Standards (SNI) to cosmetic products, where products are being tested according to its standard (RI No. HK03.1.23.11.07331). This standard includes microbial, heavy metal and the prohibited material tests. Cosmetics in the Indonesian market must meet the safety, benefit, labeling, quality and claim requirements as stated in the Indonesia Codex Cosmetics and/or appropriate provisions of country’s national standards.

In May 2012, Indonesia again applied through the World Trade Organization (Notification No. WTO G/TBT/N/IND/57) to postpone adopting the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.