BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said the finding followed intensified online and offline monitoring ahead of the year-end period. The figure was compiled after the agency completed its investigation.
He said most of the products identified were cosmetics without distribution permits or imported items lacking proper export–import documentation. BPOM found 109 brands involving 408,054 products distributed across multiple regions.
Ikrar noted that imported products dominated the findings, with violations including unregistered cosmetics, items containing banned substances, expired products, misused formulations, and imports without documentation.
Illegal cosmetics pose serious health risks because their safety and quality are not guaranteed, he warned. Some contain mercury, hydroquinone, retinoic acid, or high-risk colorants, which may cause irritation, hyperpigmentation, teratogenic effects, or cancer.
BPOM inspected 984 facilities during the operation, finding 470 to be non-compliant. These included retail distributors, beauty clinics, salons, resellers, importers, businesses holding cosmetic notifications, and manufacturers.
To address the violations, BPOM has imposed administrative sanctions, including recalls, product destruction, temporary business suspensions, permit revocations, and withdrawal of good-manufacturing-practice certificates.
The agency has also recommended import-related penalties, including potential restrictions on cosmetic import access, to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise.
Ikrar said the measures are expected to deter future violations and strengthen compliance to ensure the availability of safe and competitive cosmetic products in Indonesia.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Primayanti
Editor: Anton Santoso
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