Global Cosmetics Regulators Gather in Indonesia for New Cooperation Forum

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has launched the Initiation of the Global Cosmetic Regulatory Network (IGCRN), a forum to strengthen international regulatory cooperation and support the development of a safe, innovative, and globally competitive cosmetics industry.

BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said the forum gives regulators from different countries an opportunity to exchange experiences, strengthen capacity, and develop joint solutions to challenges facing the cosmetics sector.

"Each country has a different regulatory framework for cosmetics, yet faces similar challenges. These differences create opportunities for international cooperation to learn from one another, share experiences, strengthen capacity, and develop common solutions," Taruna said in Jakarta on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

According to Taruna, the cosmetics industry's growth should be accompanied by stronger collaboration among government, academia, and businesses. This so-called academia-business-government (ABG) approach helps align research outcomes with industry needs while ensuring innovations meet regulatory requirements.

One example is BPOM's Bridge platform, short for Bersinergi dalam Riset Inovatif, Berdaya Saing Global, dan Ekspansi Pasar (Synergy in Innovative Research, Global Competitiveness and Market Expansion). Through the platform, BPOM connects researchers with industry partners to accelerate the commercialization of research findings, including in the cosmetics sector.

To date, 13 cosmetic product research proposals have been submitted through the Bridge platform. "Bridge is one of BPOM's innovations for connecting researchers directly with industry. Through this collaboration, research findings are expected to move more quickly toward commercialization and product development," Taruna said.

Meanwhile, I Ketut Adnyana, director of research and community service at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), emphasized the importance of coordinated research involving multiple stakeholders, including industry players, to address challenges and seize opportunities in the cosmetics sector.

"At this important moment, we invite industry players to take part in research and development within their respective sectors. We hope science, ecology, and innovation can serve as strong foundations for economic growth and equitable development in Indonesia," he said.

President of the Society of Indonesian Cosmetic Scientists (SICS), Sutriyo, highlighted the need to integrate science and regulation in driving cosmetic innovation.

"Science and regulation are not separate. They are two hands of the same body. Science without regulation cannot provide optimal benefits to society, while regulation without scientific support cannot effectively manage risks or encourage innovation," he said.

The event was organized jointly by BPOM, SICS and Cosmobeauté Indonesia. The IGCRN forum brought together around 160 participants, including regulators, industry representatives, academics, students and BPOM officials.

Regulatory delegates included representatives from the Food and Drug Department of Laos' Ministry of Health and South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). International industry participants came from Laos-based Lao Phanthamit Group Company, Cosmetics Europe, and representatives of the Swiss cosmetics industry.

Through IGCRN, BPOM aims to strengthen collaboration with regulators and stakeholders worldwide to build a healthy, transparent, and sustainable cosmetics industry ecosystem. The agency hopes such cooperation will enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesian cosmetic products while contributing to national economic growth. ***