June 09, 2025

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has changing rules for chemicals. These rules focus on safety, health, the environment, and trade, especially for hazardous and toxic chemicals (B3). Here’s an easy-to-read overview for 2025.

Key Laws and Regulations

Government Regulation No. 74/2001 (B3 Regulation)

  • Covers the whole lifecycle of hazardous chemicals (B3): import, production, transport, storage, use, and disposal.
  • Chemicals are classified by toxicity, flammability, and environmental risk.

Law No. 32/2009

  • Sets rules for environmental protection, including chemical and waste management.

Government Regulation No. 22/2021

  • Details B3 and non-B3 waste rules, with lists of waste types and testing methods.

Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 07/2022

  • Controls the distribution of hazardous chemicals.
  • Requires business permits, labels, SDS, and reporting.

MoEF Regulation No. 36/2017

  • Explains registration and notification of B3 chemicals.
  • Registration is done online through the PTSP system.

Control Approach: Negative List System

  • Indonesia lists specific controlled chemicals, instead of tracking all chemicals like the EU REACH.
  • There is no national chemical inventory yet, but a new law may introduce a risk-based system in the future.

Registration, Notification, and Import Rules

B3 Registration

  • Producers and importers must register B3 chemicals with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) online.

Import Restrictions

  • Importers are either API-P (manufacturers/importers) or API-U (general importers).
  • Only state-owned companies with recommendation letters can import B3 chemicals as general importers.

Labeling and SDS

  • All chemicals must follow GHS rules for classification, labels, and Safety Data Sheets.

Sector-Specific Rules

  1. Household Health Products (PKRT)
  • Detergents, disinfectants, etc., are regulated by the Ministry of Health.
  • Registration is required for moderate and high-risk products.
  1. Cosmetics
  • The Cosmetic Notification System 3.0, launched in 2025, simplifies cosmetic registration and notification.

Waste Management

  • Companies must manage B3 waste safely.
  • Licenses are needed for storage, transport, treatment, and disposal.
  • Waste must follow government classification and rules.

Enforcement and Compliance

Permits and Reporting

  • Business permits, regular reporting, proper labeling, and correct documentation are mandatory.

Technical Inspections

  • Importers and manufacturers may face inspections to ensure compliance.

 

Challenges and Future Outlook

No National Chemical Inventory

  • Indonesia does not track all chemicals yet, making compliance harder for businesses.

Modernization Efforts

  • The government plans to move to risk-based regulations in line with international standards.

Sustainability and Trade

  • New rules are being introduced to protect the environment and ensure safe trade, especially for plastics and hazardous chemicals.

Conclusion

  • Indonesia has strong rules for hazardous chemicals but less clear rules for general chemicals.
  • The government is working to update and simplify regulations with a focus on health, environment, and trade.
  • Companies must stay informed and comply with rules on registration, labeling, and waste management to operate safely and legally.