Head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, says that the agency’s 2026 budget will be primarily focused on strengthening the agency's oversight capabilities in line with its key function of supervising pharmaceutical and processed food products available in the market. 

Speaking before health and manpower Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday, September 15, 2025, Ikrar said the measures to take will include ensuring that pharmaceutical products and processed foods meet safety standards through regular inspections and sample testing.

“The agency aims to increase the number of samples tested, with a target of inspecting 40,538 pharmaceutical samples and 19,000 food samples,” he told the lawmakers.

In the hearing, Ikrar presented the budget allocation and performance targets for the agency for 2026, with the allocated budget for the agency was confirmed at Rp 2.247 trillion (US$147 million).

The BPOM chief added that the agency’s strategic goals for 2026 also include improving public awareness regarding pharmaceutical safety and food regulations. “BPOM targets reaching 115 million individuals nationwide through its public education programs.”

He said further that the agency aims to improve legal enforcement in the sector, with plans to resolve 181,000 cases related to the distribution and safety of food and drug products.

In terms of regulatory improvements, BPOM plans to target the creation of nine new regulatory decisions to strengthen the legal framework surrounding food and drug safety.

These allocation and target framework are a part of BPOM’s broader strategy to ensure that Indonesia’s food and pharmaceutical industries adhere to international standards, protecting the health and safety of the public.

“With the commitment from all stakeholders, we believe we can reduce criminal activities in the food and drug sector next year. Effective collaboration with local governments and the implementation of additional technical units will help achieve these targets,” Ikrar said, while citing that the agency will add seven new local operational units this year and double that number in 2026.

On the occasion, Ikrar also highlighted the urgent need for BPOM to upgrade its laboratories, many of which are outdated and in need of renovation.

“Laboratories are the backbone of our ability to monitor food and drug safety. We urgently need to modernize our labs to ensure they meet international standards,” he said.

He added that the agency is, therefore, seeking approval for a budget of nearly Rp5 trillion to fund these laboratory upgrades, including for the provision of mobile laboratories for underserved areas.

“We plan to acquire mobile laboratories that can be deployed to various regions. This will allow us to reach areas that lack permanent laboratory facilities,” he said.