Jakarta. Indonesia’s Food and Drug Regulatory Agency (BPOM) is calling for a phased implementation of the government’s planned Nutri-Level front-of-pack labeling policy, citing regulatory complexities and the need to give the food industry time to adjust.

Shofiani Dewi, an official overseeing food standardization and assessment at BPOM, said the policy, under discussion since 2024, faces practical challenges, particularly as manufacturers may need to reformulate products to meet new nutritional criteria.

“Ease of implementation must be considered. The regulatory process has taken quite a long time, and we are now entering 2026. One of the main challenges is the need for product reformulation by the industry, which requires a gradual approach, as well as managing the transition period,” she said at an online conference on Tuesday.

Dewi also stressed the importance of consistently applying Nutrient Profile Models (NPM) in policymaking, describing them as a tool not only for labeling but also for public health measures.

“Consistency in applying NPM is crucial as a policy shortcut. It should not only be used for nutrition labeling but also to support wider interventions, including consumption restrictions,” she added.

The push for a cautious rollout comes as child health advocates press for faster and more stringent regulation. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) urged the government to accelerate efforts to curb excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat among children.

KPAI Vice Chairman Jasra Putra said parents alone cannot fully control children’s diets, highlighting the need for stronger state intervention.

“This issue must be addressed immediately. Children’s consumption of sugar, salt, and fat requires stricter regulation and stronger government oversight,” he said.

KPAI also reiterated calls for the introduction of an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, pointing to high consumption levels among children. Data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey shows that around half of children aged 3 to 14 consume sweetened drinks more than once per day, higher than the national average of 47.5%.

The commission recommended a series of measures, including the excise tax, tighter restrictions on outdoor advertising of sugary drinks, and stronger public education campaigns on the health risks of excessive sugar intake.

Indonesia’s rising diabetes burden has added urgency to the debate. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the country ranks fifth globally in total diabetes cases, with projections reaching 28.6 million by 2045. National data also shows that diabetes prevalence among people aged over 15 increased to 11.7% in 2023, up from 10.9% in 2018.

Echoing these concerns, Muhammad Zulfiqar Firdaus, a health economics research associate at the Center for Indonesia’s Strategic Development Initiatives (CISDI), urged the government to move forward with long-delayed plans to introduce the beverage excise tax.

He added that discussions have been ongoing since 2016, arguing that further delays risk undermining efforts to address Indonesia’s growing public health challenges.

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