The Head of Indonesia’s Food and Drug Authority (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan or BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, said that the regulatory cooperation agreement with Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) creates significant opportunities for Indonesian vaccines to be exported and recognized in foreign markets. Under this partnership, both regulators will exchange information and best practices, improve regulatory processes for health products, and conduct joint assessments that could facilitate broader access for Indonesian-manufactured vaccines and other health products. This collaboration is expected to support mutual recognition of standards, which can make it easier for products approved in Indonesia to also be accepted in Singapore and possibly other international markets.

Taruna Ikrar emphasized that this cooperation — marked by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Jakarta — strengthens the capacity of BPOM in overseeing medicines, vaccines, and other health products by learning from Singapore’s regulatory system, which is regarded as mature and internationally respected. He also pointed out that both countries are among the few in Southeast Asia with a high level of recognition from the World Health Organization as well-functioning regulatory authorities, a factor that underpins greater trust in the export of regulated products such as vaccines. The partnership includes activities like joint review processes, capacity building, and enhanced oversight that collectively help improve vaccine export potential from Indonesia. 

Source: https://rri.co.id/nasional/2121542/bpom-kerja-sama-singapura-buka-ekspor-vaksin-indonesia