Indonesia Implements New Food Import Rules to Boost Self-Sufficiency

The Indonesian government has introduced a significant regulatory update aimed at bolstering national food security and stabilizing the domestic market. Effective May 8, 2026, the Ministry of Trade's Regulation (Permendag) No. 11 of 2026 tightens import controls on a range of food commodities. This move is a strategic effort to support domestic production and ensure that local farmers are protected, aligning with the broader national goal of achieving greater self-sufficiency in food supply.

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Permendag Nomor 11 Tahun 2026 merupakan perubahan kedua atas Permendag Nomor 18 Tahun 2025, menambah beberapa ruang lingkup barang yang diatur impornya.

This new regulation represents the second amendment to Permendag No. 18 of 2025, which previously governed the import of agricultural and livestock products. The updated rules expand the scope of restricted imports to include crucial items such as feed wheat, soybean meal, mung beans, peanuts, feed-grade rice, and pears. Minister of Trade Budi Santoso emphasized that the primary objectives are to refine import policies, maintain a healthy balance between domestic supply and demand, safeguard the prices received by local producers, and ultimately strengthen national food resilience.

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Tujuannya untuk menyempurnakan kebijakan impor, menjaga keseimbangan pasokan dan permintaan di dalam negeri, melindungi harga produsen dalam negeri, serta memperkuat ketahanan pangan nasional

To enforce these new measures, importers are now required to obtain an Import Approval (PI) from the Ministry of Trade, based on technical recommendations from the Ministry of Agriculture, before any goods can be brought into the country. This process will be managed electronically through the Indonesia National Single Window system. The formulation of this policy involved extensive cross-ministerial coordination and consultation with various stakeholders, reflecting a comprehensive approach to managing the nation's food trade landscape and ensuring that import activities align with national agricultural development priorities.

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Penguatan tata kelola impor juga ditunjukkan melalui kewajiban bagi importir untuk memperoleh Persetujuan Impor (PI) dari Kementerian Perdagangan berdasarkan rekomendasi teknis Kementerian Pertanian sebelum melakukan pemasukan barang.