Regulation on Mandatory Reporting of Mobile Phone Serial Numbers Being Drafted

The Ministry of Industry (“Kemenperin”) has emphasized the need for a regulation requiring the reporting of serial number data for mobile phones and tablets that are manufactured locally or imported. Currently, the obligation to record data in the National Industrial Information System (“SIINas”) is still limited to brand, type or model, specifications, number of units, and the Type Allocation Code (TAC) or International Mobile Equipment Identity (“IMEI”) for each model. However, the serial number of each unit is not yet mandatory.

Ronggolawe Sahuri, Director of Electronics and Telematics Industry at the Kemenperin, explained that a revision or further arrangement is necessary to strengthen the legal framework, allowing serial numbers to be included as part of the Product Registration Certificate (Tanda Pendaftaran Produk – “TPP”).

“This regulation needs to be revised or supplemented to serve as a legal framework. So it may be done in coordination with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi),” he explained.

According to Ronggolawe, the mandatory reporting of serial numbers will help identify counterfeit, refurbished, and smuggled devices. On the other hand, this policy will also minimize the potential misuse of TAC and IMEI cloning practices, which harm both consumers and the industry.

The Kemenperin is preparing two technical measures as a solution. First, the drafting of supporting regulations that specifically govern the obligation to report serial number data. Second, the development of technical guidelines to integrate serial numbers with IMEI in the already issued TPP.