Indonesia’s “Sealed” Cosmetics Rule: What Korean Exporters Should Know

What Are “Sealed” (Disegel) Cosmetics in Indonesia?

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In Indonesia, kosmetik disegel means cosmetics that authorities have confiscated and sealed because they break the rules. This usually happens when products:

• Don’t have BPOM registration,
• Contain banned or dangerous ingredients, or
• Are misbranded, expired, or repackaged illegally.

BPOM (Indonesia’s Food and Drug Authority) will seal both the products and sometimes the business itself. For example, during a 2023 Jakarta raid, officials seized Rp 7.7 billion worth of unregistered cosmetics and sealed the factory. These products were unsafe and scheduled for destruction.

Photo: BPOM officers display sealed cosmetic products during a 2023 enforcement action. (Source: Detikfinance)

Why Do Authorities Seal Cosmetics?

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BPOM seals cosmetics that don’t meet Indonesian safety and labeling standards. Common reasons include:

• Missing BPOM notification number (NIE/NA),
• Use of banned ingredients (like mercury or steroids),
• Expired items or mislabeled packaging,
• Selling without proper distribution licenses.

For instance, BPOM Ambon found hundreds of illegal skincare products in beauty clinics. None of them had valid permits. Similarly, in February 2025, BPOM’s national inspection uncovered over Rp 31.7 billion in illegal cosmetics. About 80% lacked BPOM approval, while 17% had harmful substances.

In short, any cosmetic sold in Indonesia must be registered and clearly labeled in Bahasa Indonesia. It must also meet ingredient and packaging rules. If not, authorities treat it as illegal and seal it immediately.

How Does BPOM Enforce These Rules?

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BPOM carries out routine inspections at ports, warehouses, clinics, and online platforms. When officials find violations, they seal the products right away. They often seize related equipment and documents too.

After major raids, BPOM usually holds a press conference. In the 2023 Elang Laut warehouse case, the agency showcased the sealed products and equipment to the public.

Once sealed:

• The products can’t be sold, moved, or transferred,
• The company may receive administrative penalties,
• Serious cases may lead to criminal charges (up to 12 years in prison and Rp 5 billion in fines).

Under BPOM Regulation 18/2024, even promoting unregistered cosmetics is illegal. Sellers must register their products before advertising them.

What Happens After Products Are Sealed?

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By law, sealed cosmetics must be destroyed. BPOM oversees this process to ensure it’s done properly.

For example:

• BPOM Ambon destroyed 219 seized skincare items worth Rp 6.96 million.
• In Jakarta, officers incinerated hundreds of millions of rupiah worth of illegal cosmetics.

Until destruction is complete, nobody can sell or use these products. Authorities do not allow repackaging or re-labeling. Indonesia follows a strict zero-tolerance policy.

Real-Life Examples

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BPOM’s actions show how seriously they treat product safety:

• In early 2024, BPOM Jakarta destroyed 1,045 illegal cosmetic products worth Rp 168 million.
• In February 2025, BPOM secured 205,133 items from 91 brands. Nearly 80% had no approval, and over 17% used dangerous ingredients.

All these products were sealed and scheduled for destruction. BPOM’s message is clear: only registered and safe cosmetics may stay on the market.

Tips for Korean Exporters

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To avoid having your products sealed in Indonesia, follow these steps:

1. Register every product with BPOM and get a valid NIE/NA number before shipping.
2. Check your ingredients against Indonesia’s regulations. Avoid any banned substances.
3. Label everything properly in Bahasa Indonesia. Include active ingredients, expiry dates, and halal labels only if certified.
4. Work with licensed importers or distributors, not unauthorized channels.
5. Encourage your customers to “Cek KLIK”:
   • Kemasan (Packaging)
   • Label
   • Izin Edar (BPOM Notification)
   • Kedaluwarsa (Expiry Date)

Following these steps helps keep your products safe — and keeps them from being sealed.