Import Restriction Plan in the Food Draft Bill

Parliament has begun reviewing the revision of Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food, as amended by Regulation of the Government in Lieu of Law No. 2 of 2022 on Job Creation (collectively referred to as “Law 18/2012”). One of the issues is the import restriction system.

“Local food is the food of the future. If Indonesia is serious about food sovereignty, one of the indicators is not importing,” said Riyono, a member of Commission IV of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (“DPR RI”), to Hukumonline.

The draft regulation could reinforce the principle that meeting national food needs should be prioritized from domestic production, while food imports would be used as a last resort or alternative.

The policy is expected to establish more detailed mechanisms for import restrictions. “The draft will include norms and technical details. This is what we will review. However, the underlying principle is that imports will be increasingly restricted over time,” he added.