Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM)

UNCLAS JAKARTA 000185 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS AND EB/IFD/OMA USDA/FAS/OA BREWER, STOLL USDA/FAS/OCRA HALE, HIGGISTON, RADLER USDA/FAS/OSTA BLUM, MACKE, BERMAN, WETZEL USTR WEISEL, EHLERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAGR ETRD ID SUBJECT: Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM) Agrees to Engage with Post to Resolve Challenges Related to its System of Product Registration (ML) for Processed Food Products (U) On February 10, 2010 representatives from the Foreign Agricultural Service's (FAS) Jakarta office met with representatives from BPOM as a follow-up to a meeting on February 2, 2010 between officials from BPOM, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and FAS' Jakarta and Washington offices. The topic of the initial meeting was BPOM's ML system for processed food products and the resulting challenges U.S. exporters face when attempting to export processed food products to Indonesia. The objective of the February 10 meeting was to continue the dialogue initiated on February 2, and to further seek solutions for a more workable ML system for U.S. processed food products. FAS asked BPOM for weekly meetings until the scheduled visit of President Obama to Indonesia in late March. BPOM agreed to this request and Friday, February 12, 2010 was identified for the next meeting. Furthermore, FAS asked BPOM to broaden the discussions to include private sector industry representatives, to which BPOM also agreed. FAS stressed the need to find a mutually agreeable, workable process to advance Indonesian food safety, as well as facilitating trade. FAS Jakarta is currently identifying and coordinating appropriate industry representatives. OSIUS