Table of Contents
Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) issued PerBPOM No. 3 of 2026 concerning the maximum limits of microbiological contamination in processed food products. The regulation officially came into force on 18 February 2026 and serves as an amendment to PerBPOM No. 13 of 2019.
Rather than replacing the previous regulation entirely, PerBPOM No. 3/2026 specifically updates several sections of the microbiological standards attached to PerBPOM 13/2019. The amendment introduces new product categories and tightens certain microbiological parameters for selected food products, particularly powdered flavored beverages and tea products.
These updates are especially relevant for food manufacturers, importers, distributors, laboratories, and regulatory affairs teams involved in processed food compliance in Indonesia. Companies producing instant noodles, ready-to-eat pasta, pasteurized meat products, flavored beverage powders, and tea-based products should review their internal quality control systems to ensure alignment with the revised standards.
1. Introduction
Microbiological contamination limits are one of the core components of Indonesia’s processed food safety framework. BPOM establishes these limits to control microbial hazards that may affect product safety, shelf life, and consumer health. The regulation applies to both domestically produced and imported processed food products distributed in Indonesia.
PerBPOM No. 13 of 2019 has long served as the main reference for microbiological criteria across a broad range of food categories. However, developments in food processing technology, market expansion of ready-to-consume products, and evolving food safety concerns prompted BPOM to issue targeted revisions through PerBPOM No. 3 of 2026.
Key Point: PerBPOM No. 3/2026 does not replace the entire PerBPOM 13/2019 framework. Instead, it adds and revises specific microbiological criteria within the existing attachment tables.
2. Overview of PerBPOM No. 3/2026
PerBPOM No. 3/2026 focuses specifically on the microbiological criteria for processed food products. The regulation introduces additional product categories that previously did not have dedicated microbiological criteria under PerBPOM 13/2019 and revises several microbiological limits for existing categories.
| Regulation | Issued | Main Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| PerBPOM No. 13/2019 | 2019 | Original microbiological contamination standards for processed food products |
| PerBPOM No. 3/2026 | 18 February 2026 | Amendment introducing new categories and revised microbiological limits |
Important: Most food categories under PerBPOM 13/2019 remain unchanged. Companies should not assume the entire microbiological framework has been replaced.
3. What Changed from PerBPOM 13/2019
The amendment introduces two major types of changes:
- Addition of new food categories that previously had no dedicated microbiological criteria
- Revision and tightening of microbiological parameters for selected existing categories
| Category | Type of Change | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-consume pasta and noodles | New category added | Previously not specifically regulated |
| Pasteurized sausages and meatballs | New category added | Dedicated microbiological criteria introduced |
| Flavored powdered beverages | Microbiological limits revised | Stricter mold/yeast limits and Salmonella requirement |
| Tea products | Microbiological limits revised | Stricter mold/yeast limits and category adjustment |
4. New Food Categories Added
4.1 Ready-to-Consume Pasta and Noodles
PerBPOM No. 3/2026 introduces a new category for ready-to-consume flour and starch-based products, including pre-cooked pasta and noodles such as udon, wet noodles, and frozen noodles.
| Parameter | Limit |
|---|---|
| ALT | 10⁵ – 10⁶ colony/g |
| Enterobacteriaceae | 10³ – 10⁴ colony/g |
| Salmonella | Negative / 25 g |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 3 APM/g |
4.2 Pasteurized Sausages and Meatballs
BPOM also added a dedicated category for pasteurized sausages and meatballs. Previously, microbiological criteria mainly focused on non-pasteurized sausage products.
Practical Impact: Food manufacturers producing ready-to-eat refrigerated noodle products or pasteurized meat products now have explicit microbiological standards that must be met during product testing and quality control.
5. Revised Microbiological Limits
5.1 Flavored Powdered Beverages
One of the most notable revisions concerns flavored powdered beverages containing milk, creamer, or chocolate ingredients. BPOM tightened the acceptable mold and yeast limits and introduced a mandatory Salmonella requirement.
| Parameter | PerBPOM 13/2019 | PerBPOM 3/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mold & yeast (m) | 5×10² colony/g | 10² colony/g |
| Salmonella | Not regulated | Negative / 25 g |
5.2 Tea Products
The regulation also revised the microbiological criteria for tea products, including dried tea, powdered tea, and tea bags.
Important: Companies importing or manufacturing flavored beverage powders and tea products should review their laboratory testing specifications immediately, as the revised limits are stricter than the previous requirements.
6. Practical Impact for Food Manufacturers and Importers
The amendment has direct operational implications for food companies distributing products in Indonesia. Companies affected by the new or revised categories may need to update:
- Internal microbiological specifications
- Quality assurance protocols
- Supplier verification procedures
- Laboratory testing scope and frequency
- Product shelf-life validation
- Import documentation and BPOM registration support files
Imported food products are also expected to comply with the updated microbiological standards. Indonesian importers and foreign manufacturers should therefore coordinate closely to ensure certificates of analysis (CoA), product specifications, and laboratory testing methods align with the revised BPOM requirements.
7. Compliance Considerations
Companies should not view PerBPOM No. 3/2026 merely as a technical laboratory update. The revised microbiological limits may affect BPOM registration documentation, routine product testing, import clearance readiness, and post-market surveillance obligations.
Recommended Action: Companies should conduct a regulatory gap assessment comparing their existing microbiological specifications against the revised limits introduced under PerBPOM No. 3/2026.
Food companies that fail to comply with microbiological standards may face registration delays, product recalls, import detention, or post-market enforcement actions by BPOM.
8. Conclusion
PerBPOM No. 3 of 2026 represents a targeted update to Indonesia’s microbiological food safety framework. Rather than replacing PerBPOM 13/2019 entirely, the amendment introduces additional food categories and revises several microbiological parameters considered relevant to current food processing and consumption trends.
The regulation is particularly relevant for companies involved in ready-to-consume noodles and pasta, pasteurized sausage and meatball products, flavored powdered beverages, and tea products. Businesses operating in these categories should review their microbiological testing protocols and regulatory documentation to ensure continued compliance in the Indonesian market.
As BPOM continues strengthening food safety oversight in Indonesia, maintaining proactive regulatory compliance and updated laboratory controls will become increasingly important for both domestic manufacturers and foreign food exporters.
