Nutri-Level Front-of-Pack Labeling System
Indonesia
Labelling
National
Citizens/Consumers, Businesses, Public Sector
Ongoing
The policy was introduced to address Indonesia's growing obesity epidemic, which has doubled over the past decade, now affecting one in three adults and one in five school-age children. The government recognised the need for clearer nutritional information on food packaging to guide consumers towards healthier choices. The Nutri-Level system was developed as part of this initiative. The policy aims to reduce the consumption of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat by implementing a front-of-pack labelling system that categorises products into four levels. Level A (Green) indicates low content in sugar, salt and fat, Level B (Light Green) represents slightly higher levels, Level C (Yellow) signifies moderate content, and Level D (Red) denotes high content of these nutrients. Products in categories C and D are required to display their Nutri-level grade along with the total content of sugar, salt, and fat per serving or per package. The system is designed to provide consumers with clear information to encourage healthier food choices.
The policy had several forerunners from which this one emerged. 1. Government Regulation No. 69/1999 on Food Labelling and Advertising: Establishes the framework for food labelling and advertising, requiring labels to include product details including ingredients and prohibiting misleading health-related claims in advertising. 2. Minister of Health (MoH) Regulation No. 30/2013 on the Inclusion of Information on Sugar, Salt, and Fat Content and Health Messages on Processed Foods and Ready-to-Eat Foods (as amended by MoH Regulation No. 63/2015) Mandates processed food producers to include information on SSF content, along with a health warning. 3. BPOM Regulation No. 31/2018 on Processed Food Labels (as amended by Regulation No. 20/2021 and subsequently by Regulation No. 6/2024). BPOM 31/2018 and its amendments serve as foundational elements for processed food labeling in Indonesia. It also introduced the Healthier Choice Logo, Indonesia’s first FOPNL. 4. In 2019, the Indonesian government launched an optional Healthier Choice Logo9 to help consumers identify products that are healthier within specific categories. 5. Government Regulation (GR) No. 28/2024 on the Implementation Regulation of Law No. 17/2023 on Health: The regulation consolidates 31 existing health regulations, aiming to strengthen Indonesia’s health system. The regulation also stipulates provisions regarding the SFF health messages and FoPNL on processed and/or ready-to-eat processed food.
The implementation and enforcement of the Nutri-Level labeling system will be overseen by Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM). The agency is responsible for verifying label accuracy through laboratory tests and ensuring compliance among food manufacturers and distributors.
The policy is expected to be implemented in phases, beginning with ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic beverages as early as December 2024. During the the transition period, companies can voluntarily adopt the labeling scheme. Once fully implemented, the system aims to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods and improve public health outcomes. However, public health advocates warn that further postponement increases health risk dues to rising consumption of unhealthy foods.