Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has introduced significant updates to its technical inspection and verification program to further protect its markets and ensure compliance with trade regulations. The Ministry of Trade (MOT) has expanded its import licensing program, adding a new layer of scrutiny to various commodity sectors, including downstream plastics, textiles, and hazardous chemicals, according to a SGS statement.
As part of the updated regulations, plastics products were added to the list of goods requiring inspection prior to shipment to Indonesia, which is a critical market for these commodities. The new rules dictate that all plastics imports undergo technical inspection to verify compliance with the country’s standards. The program is designed to ensure the safety and quality of imported products, especially as Indonesia sees a steady rise in imports, with USD 263 billion worth of goods entering the country annually.
Importers of textiles, textile products, bags, and footwear will now be required to produce trademark certificates when applying for import permits. These permits are divided into three categories: General import permits for consumption (API-U), import permits for producers (API-P), and import permits for suppliers of raw or auxiliary materials (PPBB). This move is expected to ensure that only authorized parties import these products into the country.
The new regulations also bring stricter requirements for hazardous chemicals imports. These products are now subject to two specific categories of importers: manufacturers and general importers. API-P importers of hazardous chemicals must now secure a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Industry to confirm that their goods meet Indonesian safety and environmental standards.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
