Indonesia Releases Draft Technical Guideline for Cosmetic Advertising Supervision

On Dec. 12, 2019, Indonesia released the draft Guideline for Cosmetic Advertising Supervision ^[1]. The Guideline stipulates the requirements on cosmetics advertising, advertising media, administrative sanctions of illegal advertising, etc.

The Main Contents

Cosmetics in Indonesia are required to be notified with the Agency for Drug and Food Control before circulation on the market. The notifier is issued with a notification number and shall be responsible for the compliance of the advertisement.

1. Requirements on Cosmetics Advertising

Cosmetics advertisement should be:

• Objective and provide factually correct information on the nature, usage and safety of the cosmetics;

• Not misleading, particularly as it relates to claims of medicinal efficacy

• Complete, that is, being able to include information about the use of cosmetics and warnings and other matters that must be known by consumers

2. Advertising Media include:

• Print media, such as newspapers, magazines, tabloids, bulletins, posters, leaflets, stickers, booklets, pamphlets, etc.

• Electronic media, such as television, radio, etc.

• Outdoor media, such as billboards, decorative lights/neon boxes, hot air balloon, banners, transit ads, etc.

• Digital media, which are newly added, including two categories:

3. Administrative Sanctions for Illegal Advertisements

The owner of the Notification Number shall be subject to the following administrative sanctions if the advertisements violate this Guideline.

• An order to stop the publication of advertisements;

• An order for withdrawal or destruction of advertisements;

• Temporary suspension of advertising, manufacture or importation within a maximum period of six months;

• Temporary closure of online access to the platform for submissions of applications for notification or importation, within a maximum period of six months;

• Cancellation of existing cosmetic notification.