KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia has strengthened the protection of its culinary heritage after the Central Sulawesi Office of the Law Ministry on Saturday, November 22, 2025, officially registered Lalampa Toboli as Communal Intellectual Property (KIK), a status granted through a cultural verification process to safeguard traditional practices from external claims.

Aida Julpha Tangkere, Head of the Intellectual Property Division at the Central Sulawesi office, said in Palu on Saturday, November 22, that Lalampa Toboli meets all criteria required for KIK designation.

“Lalampa carries traditional value, has been passed down through generations, and represents a communal practice. Therefore, it deserves KIK status,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

According to him, Lalampa has long been part of Toboli’s cultural tradition and is widely enjoyed by tourists as well as migrants who miss the flavors of their hometown.

Lalampa Toboli is made from glutinous rice filled with shredded fish, typically tuna or skipjack, wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over charcoal. The grilling process creates a distinct aroma and savory taste that differentiates it from similar dishes such as lemper.

Tangkere emphasized that KIK registration ensures Lalampa Toboli is protected from external claims and remains the cultural property of the Toboli community and Parigi Moutong Regency.

“This recognition provides legal protection for the cultural, historical, and social value of Lalampa Toboli,” he added.

Meanwhile, Head of the Central Sulawesi Law Ministry Regional Office, Rakhmat Renaldy, encouraged all districts and cities to be proactive in documenting and registering their cultural assets.

“Every region has unique cultural wealth. Do not wait for disputes or claims to arise. Document and register them now,” he said.

Renaldy noted that Lalampa Toboli has strong potential to become a gastronomic tourism icon for Central Sulawesi.

With KIK protection, its cultural identity remains safeguarded while also creating economic opportunities for local communities.

He added that cultural protection is a long-term investment in regional identity and can open new economic avenues. The regional office, he said, is ready to provide technical assistance from data collection to the verification process. ***