The threat of Bispheneol A (BPA) compounds in Food Packaging, especially Bottled Drinking Water (AMDK) raises thoughts about the importance of policy breakthroughs in carrying out BPA Labeling Regulations in Food Packaging in Indonesia, in order to protect public health. Various parties are pushing the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (POM) to carry out BPA Labeling in Food Packaging, including drinking water made from polycarbonate plastic and other food packaging containing BPA.
FIA UI Researcher and Academician, Dr. Ima Mayasari who explained the policy brief entitled “Urgency for Regulation of Bisphenol A (BPA) Labeling in Food Packaging” said the importance of regulation on BPA Labeling was based on the aspect of consumer protection, based on scientific evidence, available information on processed food should support safety against BPA in Food Packaging. “The danger regarding the toxicity of BPA which can move from food packaging to food or drinks, is a consideration regarding the urgency of this labeling regulation,” emphasized Ima Mayasari.
Ima Mayasari encourages the Government to take steps to compile regulations that are able to harmonize regulations related to Food Packaging both upstream by the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Health, Bappenas/Ministry of PPN, and downstream through Law No. 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection, Law No. 18 of 2012 concerning Food, and Law No. 32 of 2002 concerning Child Protection as amended by Law No. 35 of 2014 which places an emphasis on aspects of expediency to protect public health. “The government must be able to see developments in people’s needs and policy references that exist at the international level by benchmarking food packaging regulations for public health protection,” said Ima, explaining further.
She also recommended that the POM to make changes to the Drug and Food Control Agency Regulation Number 31 of 2018 concerning Processed Food Labels. Next, Ima encouraged the government to make adjustments and changes to the Regulation of the Minister of Industry Number 24.M-IND/PER/2/2010 concerning the inclusion of the Food Grade Logo, and the Recycling Code on Plastic Packaging and other Regulations as well as the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) so that in line with regulations made by other ministries/agencies. “The government and BPOM conduct education and outreach as a form of public awareness of the dangers of BPA accompanied by regular monitoring and evaluation activities so that irregularities can be immediately identified and resolved,” he said again.
Deputy for Processed Food Supervision, BPOM, Dra. Rita Endang said the POM is currently still conducting a joint review of standards and regulations with water experts, plastic polymer experts, and food safety experts and related ministries/institutions, including packaging standards and bottled drinking water labels. According to Rita Endang, the BPOM is arranging policy brief BPA risk assessment in bottled drinking water which includes, BPA migration limit in Polycarbonate Gallon Packaging remains 0.6 ppm. “BPOM in establishing policies and regulations prioritizes public health protection, the dynamics of other countries’ regulations and takes into account the Regulatory Impact Assesment (RIA) such as the readiness of the food industry and the economic impact,” said Rita. Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) Commission for Cooperation & Institutional Studies, Dr. Ermanto Fahamsyah, believes that the application of BPA Labeling regulations in food packaging is deemed necessary to increase awareness of business actors on the importance of accurate and complete information on a food product and to produce quality food, safe for consumption and following applicable standards. Ermanto Fahamsyah assessed that it is necessary to increase supervision of food packaging safety, but there is also a need for guidance for business actors who produce food/food packaging that is safe for consumers, including micro and small scale business actors. “Implementation of BPA Labeling regulations needs to be accompanied by education to consumers about the dangers of BPA content in food packaging and in choosing packaged food that is safe for consumption,” he said. The Managing Director of the Center for Public Policy Studies (CPPS), Carry Nadeak, is of the view that a policy made by the government must involve the public so that the resulting policy products reflect the public interest. Carry Nadeak is of the opinion that there are certain values that arise in society and people’s wishes that must be considered or fulfilled by the government..
This is in line with the rapid changes in information and technology which have an impact on the ease with which people can access information from various existing information channels, both through social media and mainstream media. “In the context of the planned BPA Labeling regulation, public values must be seen by regulators to review whether the regulations made are still relevant today, so that they will become one of BPOM’s considerations,” said Carry Nadeak.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Breastfeeding Mothers Association (AIMI), Nia Umar invited all parties to be involved in outreach about the risks of BPA. His party supports the recommendations submitted by the FIA UI review team so that there is a BPA Labeling regulation. “Our hope is that the government will strictly regulate and prioritize public health above industrial interests,” said Nia Umar.
