RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is strengthening food safety standards for its free nutritious meals program through Hygiene and Sanitation Certificates. The Director for Public Health Management at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Dr. Suyanti, made the statement during the SHAPE Asia Country Meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

The policy supports the success of the Free Nutritious Meals program, a priority program of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The program aims at improving children’s nutrition and strengthen public health quality nationwide.

The Indonesian government requires each Nutrition Meals Service Unit (SPPG), to obtain Hygiene and Sanitation Certificates, known as SLHS. The certification supports safer food preparation and healthier school food environments for students nationwide.

She said Indonesia promotes integrated food safety measures. She explained the approach combines monitoring systems, sanitation standards, and food safety supervision within school meal services.

“Indonesia promotes an integrated approach to ensuring food safety. We focus on strengthening food safety assurance within and around the Nutrition Meals Service Unit, or SPPG, and schools through several interventions supporting safe food integration. Each SPPG is required to obtain the Hygiene and Sanitation Certificate, or SLHS,” she said.

The SLHS certification includes environmental health inspection standards and food and water laboratory testing requirements. The certification also requires food handler training standards to improve hygiene and sanitation practices.

She also conveyeddistrict health offices and public health centers conduct external food safety monitoring across operational areas. Internal monitoring is also carried out regularly by SPPG staff to maintain food quality and safety standards.

She reported encouraging progress in implementing the national school food safety program across Indonesia. More than 28,000 operational SPPGs have already been established throughout the country.

“Healthy school food environments are an investment in the future generation by ensuring that food provided in schools is not only nutritious, but also safe and hygienic,” she said.

The Indonesian Ministry of Health works with several ministries, local governments, schools, and development partners on implementation efforts. The cooperation aims to strengthen nutrition, sanitation, food safety, and healthy school environment policies nationwide.