Introduction
According to Government regulations[i], products classified as organic in Indonesia must be certified by an accredited organic certification board endorsed by the National Accreditation Committee (KAN). The Organic Certificate serves as an entrance ticket for importers to sell their certified organic products in Indonesia. If a company wants to use the organic logo on their product label, they have to register for the Organic Certificate beforehand or otherwise, BPOM will not issue a distribution license for the product and therefore it cannot be sold in Indonesia.
There are currently several organic certification authorities in Indonesia including Sucofindo, BIOCert Indonesia, INOFICE, and others. In this article, we will discuss the organic certification process with Sucofindo, a state-owned certification company. We’ll examine the most important things a foreign company should know about the organic certification process in Indonesia.
The Definition of Organic Products
Organic products are defined as products that are manufactured in accordance with the standards of the organic food system[ii]. It includes processed organic food materials, organic support materials, plants and fresh products (rice, fruit and vegetable, dairy products) and plantation products (honey, coffee, and vanilla).
Who Should Apply for the Organic Certification?
Any business that implements the organic farming system in their production and wants to use the certified organic logo on their label is required to register for the Organic Certificate. Foreign companies can either incorporate their entities in Indonesia in the form of a PT PMA and obtain the Organic Certification and distribute themselves or appoint a local distributor on their behalf. For businesses that opt for the latter, the distributor will have to register for the Organic Certification.
Note that you can still apply for the Organic Certificate even if your product has been registered with BPOM and is already in circulation.
Sucofindo Organic Certification Process:
Stage 1: Application
Prepare for all the documentation requirements including your company’s legal documents and if any, an organic certificate from another country. The Sucofindo Organic Certification process takes a few months so make sure the documents will be valid for at least 6 months ahead. Once you have prepared the documents, you need to write a certification request to Sucofindo and attach the required documents.
Stage 2: Document Verification
Once you have submitted the required documents, an inspection team assigned by Sucofindo will review the documents. They have the authority to either decline or accept your application at this stage depending on the validity and availability of the documents. If the verification is successful, you may proceed to the next stage. This will take a few weeks.
Stage 3: Verification of the Organic Certification Board of Origin
If your product has been certified by an organic certification institution abroad, Sucofindo will verify the legality of the institution and the measure of its standards. This verification is intended to check if the standards correspond to the Indonesian National Standards (Standar Nasional Indonesia or SNI). Sucofindo will issue a letter of recommendation if the verification is successful.
Stage 4: Field Inspection
Field inspection will be carried out at the time of handling and storing goods in the warehouse, accompanied by the company’s representative operator. The field inspection team will evaluate the conformity and ability of the operator to comply with the standard requirements and technical regulations. If the field inspection is successful, an inspection report will be issued by the inspecting team and you can move forward to the next stage.
Stage 5: Technical Review
The technical reviewer team will coordinate with the field inspection team and evaluate the inspection report. If successful, they will issue the Organic Certificate, as well as the Right to Use the Organic Logo.
Conclusion
Permitindo, as an experienced and reliable partner, can guide you through the intricate process of obtaining business-related licenses and permits, including the Organic Certificate in Indonesia. Our knowledgeable team can help simplify the procedure, providing you with the necessary assistance and information every step of the way.
Do note, however, that while we are here to facilitate the process, obtaining the Organic Certificate ultimately relies on compliance with Indonesian regulations and the assessment of the relevant Indonesian authorities, such as Sucofindo.
We pride ourselves on our ability to navigate these requirements effectively and have successfully supported many clients in the past. Please note that we are not directly affiliated with Sucofindo, the Indonesian government, or any official organic certification bodies. We simply use our expertise to help you fulfil their requirements and make the process as smooth as possible.
If you need further information or assistance, we would love to hear from you. Reach out to us at contact@permitindo.com or by filling out this contact form.
References
[i] Pedoman Keberterimaan Sertifikat Organik Asal Pemasukan, Sucofindo
[ii] Minister of Agriculture Regulation No 64/2013
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