Required Report: Required - Public Distribution

Date: November 27, 2023
Report Number:

ID2023-0022

Report Name: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual
Country: Indonesia
Post: Jakarta
Report Category: Biotechnology and Other New Production Technologies

Prepared By:

Titi Rahayu

Approved By: Rey Santella
Report Highlights:
President Jokowi stated his support for the utilization of genetically engineered (GE) crops (i.e.,soybeans) in his September 2022 speech. To date, ten GE events have been allowed for cultivation inIndonesia (i.e., one GE sugarcane, one GE potato, and eight GE corn varieties).

THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF AND NOT NECESSARILYSTATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICYEXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe United States exported over $2.2 billion of genetically engineered (GE) products to Indonesia in
2022, including Bt cotton, soybeans and soybean meal, Bt corn, and a variety of food products derived
from GE crops and microbes, such as cheese and enzymes.
The Government of Indonesia’s (GOI) overarching policy on agricultural biotechnology is to accept itwith a precautionary approach and use science to assess environmental, food, and/or feed safety. The
stated policy is also to take into consideration religion, ethical, socio-cultural, and aesthetic norms. After
deliberating these factors, the GOI forged ahead with regulations for GE products, including biosafetyassessments of GE products, GE crops variety release, and establishment of monitoring guidelines.
On September 19, 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) publicly encouraged farmers to
use genetically engineered (GE) soybean seeds to increase domestic soy production, the first time an
Indonesian head of state openly advocated for the cultivation of a GE crop. Jokowi remarked thatIndonesia should reduce its reliance on soybean imports, vowing the GOI could increase local
production by adopting the use of GE soy varieties. The explicit endorsement of GE soy seeds differs
greatly from the government’s past strategies to achieve soybean self-sufficiency.
To date, 30 GE corn, 16 GE soybean, three GE sugarcane, one GE potato, seven GE canola, five GE
cotton, and one GE wheat events have undergone risk assessments for either “food, feed, or
environmental safety”. Of these, several GE crops have undergone all three assessments. In total, there
are currently 10 varieties of biotech crops that have been approved for cultivation here, namely: droughttolerant sugarcane (1 variety), late blight resistant potato (1 variety), herbicide tolerant corn (4 varieties),and insect resistant & herbicide tolerant corn (4 varieties). The GOI has also approved a GE icestructuring protein for human consumption, a GE livestock feed additive, and 11 GE animal vaccines forcommercialization.
Additional GE and gene edited products are expected to be approved for commercialization in theupcoming years. Other information regarding biotechnology situation in Indonesia can be found in thislink. FAS Jakarta’s GAIN Report on Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country
Report 2022 also contains information about the biotechnology situation in Indonesia.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY ……………………………………….. 4
PART A: PRODUCTION AND TRADE………………………………………... 4
PART B: POLICY ……………………………………………………………….. 5
PART C: MARKETING ……………………………………………………….. 33
CHAPTER 2: ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY ……………………………………... 34
PART D: PRODUCTION AND TRADE………………………………………... 34
PART E: POLICY……………………………………………………………….. 34
PART F: MARKETING………………………………………………………….. 35
CHAPTER 3: MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY ………………………………... 35
PART G: PRODUCTION AND TRADE………………………………………... 35
PART H: POLICY……………………………………………………………….. 36
PART I: MARKETING………………………………………………………….. 37

3

CHAPTER 1: PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGYPART A: PRODUCTION AND TRADEa) RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT:
Indonesia continues to develop GE and gene edited plants, albeit at a moderate pace. The National
Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is the newly designated GOI agency responsible forleading research and technology mandated by Presidential Regulation No. 78/2021. The regulation
stipulates that all government-owned research institutions, including the Indonesian Institute of
Sciences (LIPI), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), theNational Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space(LAPAN), as well as work units that carry out the tasks and functions of research within theministry/government agencies, such as from Ministry of Agriculture, must be merged into BRIN.
During the transition period, research activities were put on hold. Only recently has BRIN’s
Agriculture & Food Research Organization and Life Science & Environment Research Organization
begun to conduct genome editing research and work on Fe & Zn biofortification rice, high yield rice,improved-quality sorghum, high temperature tolerant & rust disease resistant wheat, dwarf virus
resistant rice, drought tolerant and high Fe & Zn content cassava, multi-disease resistant onion, andpepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIV) resistant big chili. Meanwhile, geneticallyengineered research on high sucrose sugarcane (collaboration with University of Jember), golden
rice (collaboration with IRRI and Ministry of Agriculture), Fe-Zn biofortification rice (collaboration
with IRRI and Ministry of Agriculture) have also started. Unfortunately, a biosafety study of stem
borer resistant GE rice is still on hold due to budget constraints. Discussions also continue forpossible biosafety assessment collaboration. Unfortunately, there is no information on the progressof genome editing research for high-yield Artemisia annua after the Ministry of Agriculture’s(MOA) Indonesia Center for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources (ICABIOGRAD)
merged into BRIN. In addition, further research on nitrogen use efficiency GE Rice has stopped after
ICABIOGRAD’s scientists moved to BRIN.
The University of Jember is developing a GE, high-glucose content sugarcane. The university hasstudied the environmental and food safety aspects of the GE sugarcane and has completed its
confined field trials in four locations. With funding from the Ministry of Finance’s Indonesia
Endowment Funds for Education’s (LPDP) Productive Innovative Research (RISPRO) Program andcollaboration with ID Food-RNI (state-owned company), this GE sugarcane is currently in theprocess of obtaining food, feed, and environmental safety certificates. Also pending is the Universityof Jember’s research on golden rice. The research on mosaic virus resistant sugarcane, mosaic virus
resistant sorghum, high-yield rice, and mosaic virus resistant tomato have also been completed, butthey are only for scientific publication purposes. Since 2020, the University of Jember has beencollaborating with Gyomngsang National University (South Korea) to conduct genome editing on
sugarcane. Unfortunately, collaboration on this research has stopped since the mutation of genome
edited is beyond the DNA target domain. Meanwhile, the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) University
has successfully assembled bacterial wilt resistant potato. They are also conducting research on
genetically engineered potato and using CRISPR/Cas9 technique on improving rice architecture andreducing cyanide content in cassava.
USAID is funding the development of a GE late blight-resistant potato. The potato project is being
carried out in a partnership with Michigan State University (MSU), the University of Minnesota,

4

University of Idaho, the JR Simplot Company, and ICABIOGRAD, and organized under the Feed
the Future Biotechnology Partnership Project (FtFBPP). Under the regulated materials transfer
agreement between MSU and ICABIOGRAD, the research uses GE Diamant (the variant isoriginally from Bangladesh), and Granola potato varieties inserted with three virus-resistant genes
from wild potato species. FtFBPP’s project has been extended to 2026 with the new project name:Feed the Future Global Biotechnology Partnership Project (FtFGBPP). Due to the establishment of
BRIN as Indonesia’s new research authority in 2022, the agreement between MSU andICABIOGRAD is no longer valid. However, MSU currently has an agreement with BRIN’s
Agriculture & Food Research Organization to continue the project. The results of the efficacy study
showed that both granola and diamant varieties of GE potatoes with stacked genes showed very highresistance to late blight disease, regardless of its pesticides were sprayed or not. The next steps are to
conduct environmental safety studies in four LUT locations (Garut and Pangalengan in West Java,
Kledung in Central Java, and Tosari in East Java) in 2023-2024. Food safety assessments of thesevarieties is scheduled to be done in 2024. Meanwhile, the plan of multi-location studies for variety
registration purposes will be conducted during 2005-2006.
b) COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION:
Indonesia has authorized the planting of GE drought-resistant sugarcane developed by PTPN XI, a
state-owned sugar plantation company, and the University of Jember. PTPN XI estimates total GE
sugarcane planting area for 2021 reached 13,000 hectares. Previously, this GE sugarcane could only
be cultivated on lands owned by PTPN XI, and its seeds were not freely available to other farmers
for planting due to the lack of certification. In 2022, the Indonesian Sugar Research Institutecertified the GE sugarcane seed, and it is currently available for general commercialization.
Bayer has commercialized around 4-6 metric tons (MT) of their GE corn seed and farmers haveplanted 200-300 hectares in South Sulawesi, West Nusatenggara, and East Nusatenggara. The
initiative is under Bayer’s Better Life Farming (BLF) program. Syngenta also launched its stacked
genes-GE corn seed for commercialization. Bayer and Syngenta are preparing to locally produce F1
seeds for GE corn cultivation beyond 2023 as they were unable to obtain authorization to continue
directly importing F1 seeds. The importation of F1 seeds is prohibited by the Ministry ofAgriculture.
Although Bio Granola potato has been authorized for commercialization, this GE potato has yet tobe planted by farmers due to delays in seed propagation caused by the transition of ICABIOGRAD’s
researchers and technicians to BRIN.
c) EXPORTS:
Indonesia does not export any GE crops to the United States or any other country.
d) IMPORTS:
According to Trade Data Monitor, in 2022, Indonesia imported over 2.3 million metric tons (MMT)of soybeans. U.S. soybeans account for approximately 83 percent of all of Indonesia’s soybean
imports and are mostly GE varieties. Soybean consumption in Indonesia is predominantly used to
produce human food, with most imported soybeans going to tempeh and tofu production.

5

As one of the world’s largest cotton importers, Indonesia imported over 490,000 metric tons (MT) of
cotton in 2022, including over 89,000 MT of cotton from the United States. The majority of all
cotton imports are of Bt cotton, which feeds Indonesia’s major textile and garment industries.
Indonesia’s livestock industry relies on imported soybean meal, corn, and corn-related products forfeed. In 2021, Indonesia imported over 5.6 MMT of soybean meal, primarily from Argentina andBrazil. In 2021, corn imports reached over 1 MMT, and Indonesian poultry producers imported
216,000 MT of corn gluten meal and over 776,000 MT of distiller’s dried grain and solubles (DDGS)
originating primarily from U.S.-grown GE corn.
Please see GAIN Reports ID2023-0005, ID2023-0006 and ID2023-0009 for more information
regarding the trade of soybeans, soybean meal, corn, and cotton.
e) FOOD AID:
Indonesia is not a recipient or donor of food aid.
f)

TRADE BARRIERS:
Indonesia continues to import large quantities of GE products. There have been no trade disruptions
reported so far.

PART B: POLICYa) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK:
Legal Term (inofficial language)
Produk Rekayasa
Genetik

Legal Term (inEnglish)GeneticallyEngineered
Product

Laws and Regulations
where term is used
- Government
Regulation No.
21/2005 on Biosafetyof GeneticallyEngineered Products.
- The Indonesian Ulema
Council Decision No.
35/2013 on
GeneticallyEngineering and Its
Product.
- Law No. 33/2014 on
Halal Product
Assurance (InIndonesian)- Ministry ofAgriculture
Regulation No.
36/2016 on Study of
the Safety ofLegal Definition (inEnglish)Genetically modified
products or modified
organisms is a livingorganism, its parts
and/or theirprocessed products
which have acomposition of new
genetic material fromthe application ofmodernbiotechnology.

6

-

-

-

-

-

GeneticallyEngineering Fodder
Product.
Ministry ofEnvironment andForestry Regulation
No. P.69/2016 on theProcedures forEnvironmental Safety
Testing of GeneticallyEngineered Productsin Limited Test Field.
Head of BPOM
Regulation No. 6/2018
on Supervision of
GeneticallyEngineered Food.
Ministry ofAgriculture
Regulation No.
38/2019 on Plant
Variety Release (inIndonesian).
Ministry ofAgriculture
Regulation No.
50/2020 on
Supervision andControl on the
Varieties ofAgricultural
GeneticallyEngineered Product(GEP) Plants
Circulating in the
Territory of the
Republic of Indonesia.
(In Indonesian).
Ministry ofAgriculture
Regulation No.
19/2021 on Genetic
Resources and Estate
Crops Variety Release(in Indonesian).

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- The Head of Indonesia
Agency of Agricultural
Research andDevelopment Decree
No.337/2021 on
Guidelines for Testingand Assessment of
GeneticallyEngineered Plant
Varieties for theRelease of Food Crop
Varieties.
- Ministry of Religious
Affairs Decree No.
748/2021 on Types of
Products Mandatory to
be Halal Certified (inIndonesian).
The GOI’s policy on biotechnology is to, “accept with a precautionary approach,” and use science toassess environmental, food, and/or feed safety. In addition, the GOI’s policy is to consider religion,
ethical, socio-cultural, and aesthetic norms. Indonesia’s regulatory framework to evaluate andapprove GE crops for cultivation was completed by the issuance of monitoring and control
guidelines by the Ministry of Agriculture in December 2020.
The Ministers of Environment & Forestry, Agriculture, Marine Affairs & Fisheries, and the Head of
BPOM (National Food and Drug Agency) are the authorities responsible for approving and releasing
GE products (See Table 1) and governed by MOA Regulation No. 23/2023 and MOA’s command
letter No. 106/2023.
Based on these regulation and command, the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Instruments
Standardization (BSIP) received mandates to assess feed safety of GE products, process the researchand development permit of GE products, handle GE crops variety release, and control GE cropvarieties distribution.
Based on the Presidential Regulation No. 45/2023, the National Quarantine Authority which reports
directly to the President, has been authorized to supervise and/or control imported geneticallyengineered products in the border, including plant, animal, and fish.
The issuance of Presidential Regulation No. 11/2016 on the suspension of nine non-structural
institutions, including the National Seed Agency (BBN), caused an obstacle to thecommercialization of GE food crops and estate crop varieties. This is because BBN had previously
authorized the release of all of food and estate crops varieties, including GE products. However, with
the issuance of a new regulation on crop variety release (the Ministry of Agriculture’s Regulation
No. 38/2019), the authority for releasing all crop varieties is with the Center for Plant Variety
Protection and Agricultural Licensing, MOA.

8

For their part, BPOM revoked three different regulations governing GE food (No.
HK.03.1.23.03.12.1563/2012, No. HK.03.1.23.03.12.1564/2012, and No. 19/2016) and compiled
them into regulation No. 6/2018 on Supervision of GE Food Products.
Additionally, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry published regulation 69/2016 on proceduresfor environmental safety testing of GE crops during confined field trials. Other Indonesian laws andregulations related to biotechnology can be seen at the Indonesian Biosafety Clearing House(BCH)’s website.
Table 1. The National Competent Authority for GE Products
National Competent Authorities
No.
Area of Authority
Ministry/Agency
The Authorized Office1.
Ministry of
Directorate General for
Environmental
Environment andConservation of NaturalsafetyForestry
Resources and Ecosystem
2.
Ministry of Agriculture
Indonesian Agency for
Feed safety
Agricultural Instruments
Standardizations
3.
Ministry of Agriculture
Directorate General of
Microorganism
Livestock and Animal Health products
Services
4.
Ministry of Agriculture
Center for Plant Variety
Seed imports permit
Protection and Agriculturaland crop variety
Licensingrelease5.
Ministry of Agriculture
Indonesian Agency for
Research permit
Agricultural Instruments
Standardization
6.
National Quarantine
No information
Plant, animal, andAgencyfish imports
7.
National Agency of
Deputy for Processed Food
Food safety
Drug and Food Control
Control(BPOM)
8.
Ministry of Marine
No information
Fisheries products
Affairs and Fisheries
and fish feed
9.
Ministry of
No information
Forestry plants
Environment andForestry

The approval procedures for food, feed, processing, and environmental releases are described in the
diagrams below, as per Government Regulation No. 21/2005.

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Figure 1. The Procedure for Research and Development of GE products as per Regulation
21/2005 and Ministry of Agriculture’s Command Letter No. 106/2023

Source: FAS Jakarta (2023)
Figure 2. The Procedure for Obtaining Food Safety Certificate

Source: Indonesia Bio-safety Clearing House (BCH), 201910

Figure 3. The Procedure for Obtaining Environmental Safety Certificate

Source: Indonesia Bio-safety Clearing House (BCH), 201911

Figure 4. The Procedure for Obtaining Feed Safety Certificate

Source: Indonesia Bio-safety Clearing House (BCH), 2019
The National Biosafety Commission on Genetically Engineered Products (BCGEP) is responsible
for providing biosafety recommendations, suggestions, and considerations of GE products to theauthorized ministries. The first BCGEP, established in 2010 and based on Presidential Regulation
39/2010, was inactive until June 2, 2014,when it was reauthorized through Presidential Regulation
53. The current BCGEP members were selected through the Presidential Regulation No. 50/2018 on
September 27, 2018. The BCGEP consists of 19 members from the government, the community, andacademia. In June 2020, the BCGEP was initially included on a list of non-structural institutions for
suspension or restructuring as part of the GOI’s attempt to streamline bureaucracy; however, it was
not included on the final announcement issued July 20, 2020, allowing the commission to continue
its work. Under new leadership, BCGEP, assisted by TTB, has actively conducted technicalbiosafety reviews, and provided biosafety recommendations for numerous GE products.

12

Three Technical Teams for Biosafety (TTB) assist the BCGEP in conducting technical assessments
and reviews for food, feed, and environmental biosafety. The technical team for environmental
safety is divided into four groups: plant, animal, fish, and microorganisms. In addition to this team,
BCGEP also established the Team of Legal, Economic, Social, and Cultural Assessment (TLESCA)in 2012.
b) APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS:In August 2013 the drought tolerant sugarcane developed by state-owned PT Perkebunan Nusantara
XI (PTPN XI) and in collaboration with University Jember was the first GE crop to meet all existing
regulatory requirements for public release in Indonesia. Then, in July 2021, the MOA approved therelease of the Bio Granola potato. This GE potato variety is a cross between a granola potato and GE
Katahdin potato (event SP951). Bio Granola completed food and environmental safety assessments
and met all necessary biosafety requirements; it does not require a feed safety assessment since theproduct is not for animal consumption.
On February 16, 2022, the MOA signed decrees releasing four GE corn seed varieties from single
event, following the recommendations of the MOA’s Variety Release Team in September 2021.
These decrees officially authorized the cultivation and the commercial sale of these GE food crop
seeds in Indonesia. These seed varieties and the producers are as follows:- PT Bayer Indonesia: DK95-NK 603 (1 variety);- PT Syngenta Seed Indonesia: NK7328s-GA21, NK212s-GA21, and NK6172-GA21 (3 varieties).
In March 2023, the MOA through the old variety release team for GE products (their term finishedin April 2023) released GE corn varieties from stacked-gene events produced by PT Syngenta Seed
Indonesia. These varieties are: NK212s-Bt11xGA21, NK7328s-Bt11xGA21, NK6172-Bt11xGA21,
NK306-Bt11xGA21.
The other approved GE plants from each category can be seen at the below table.
Table 3. GE Plants with Environmental, Feed and/or Food Safety Approvals
For Food SafetyNo.
Product
Applicant
1. Insect resistant corn event MON 89034
PT. Branita Sandhini
2. Herbicide tolerant corn event NK 603
PT. Branita Sandhini
3. Herbicide tolerant soybean event GTS 40-3-2
PT. Branita Sandhini
4. Herbicide tolerant soybean event MON 89788
PT. Branita Sandhini
5. Herbicide tolerant corn event GA21
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
6. Insect resistant corn event MIR 162
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
7. Insect resistant corn event BT 11
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
8. Insect resistant corn event MIR 604
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
9. Corn event 3272 (contained optimal alpha amylase
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
enzyme for ethanol production)
10. Drought tolerant sugarcane event NXI-1T
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XI
11. Drought tolerant sugarcane event NXI-4T
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XI
12. Drought tolerant sugarcane event NXI-6T
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XI
13. Insect resistant soybean event MON 87701
PT. Branita Sandhini
13

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.

Herbicide tolerant and fatty acid change soybean
event MON 87705
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event TC
1507
Herbicide tolerant soybean event MON 87708
Higher nutritional value soybean event MON 87769
Herbicide tolerant corn event MON 87427
Drought tolerant corn event MON 87460
Late blight resistant potato Katahdin event SP951
High oleic acid and herbicide tolerant soybean event
305423
Herbicide tolerant soybean event SYHT0H2
Insect resistant corn event MON 810
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MON 87411
Insect resistant soybean event MON 87751
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MON 88017
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MZIR098
Herbicide tolerant corn event MZHG0JG
Herbicide tolerant canola event DP73496
Insect resistant corn event 5307
Herbicides tolerant corn event DAS-402789
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
DP59122
Herbicide tolerant soybean event A55547-127
Herbicide tolerant soybean event A2704-12
Herbicides tolerant soybean event DAS-44406-6
Herbicide tolerant soybean event FG72
Herbicides tolerant and insect resistant corn stacked
event BT11xGA21
Herbicide tolerant corn event T25
Herbicide tolerant and enzyme inhibitor canola event
MS8
Herbicide tolerant and enzyme inhibitor canola event
RF3
Herbicide tolerant and enzyme inhibitor canola event
MS11
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant soybean event
DAS-81419-2

PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
ICABIOGRAD, Ministry ofAgriculture
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Dow Agrosciences
Indonesia
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Dow Agrosciences
Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Dow AgroSciences
Indonesia

14

43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.

Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant cotton event
GHB119Herbicide tolerant cotton event LLCotton25
Herbicides tolerant cotton event GHB811
Herbicide tolerant cotton event GHB614
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant cotton event
T304-40
Herbicide tolerant and insects resistant corn event
DP4114
Herbicide tolerant soybean stacked event
FG72xA5547-127
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant soybean event
GMB151
Herbicide tolerant corn event DP202216-6

Herbicide tolerant corn event MON 87419
Herbicide tolerant canola event MS11xRF3Drought tolerant wheat event IND-00412-7
Herbicide tolerant and increased omega-3 canola
event LBFLFK
56. Insect resistant corn event MON 95379
57. Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MON89034xNK603
58. Drought tolerant and herbicide tolerant soybean
event IND-00410-5
59. Insect resistant and herbicides tolerant soybean event
DAS81419-2xDAS44406-6
61. Insects resistant and herbicide tolerant corn event
MON89034xTC1507xMIR162xNK603
For Feed Safety
1. Herbicide tolerant corn event NK 603
2. Insect resistant corn event MON 89034
3. Drought tolerant sugar cane event NXI-4T
4. Insect resistant corn event BT 11
5. Herbicide tolerant corn event GA21
6. Insects resistant corn event MIR 162
7. Insect resistant corn event MIR 604
8. Insect resistant soybean event MON 87701
9. Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event TC
1507
10. Corn event 3272 (contained optimal alpha amylase
enzyme for ethanol production)
11. Insect resistant corn event 5307
12. Herbicide tolerant soybean event SYHT0H2

PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Corteva Agriscience Seed
Indonesia.
PT Bayer Indonesia
PT BASF Indonesia
PT Ravindo Sukses Mulia
PT BASF Indonesia
PT Bayer Indonesia
PT Bayer Indonesia
PT Ravindo Sukses Mulia
PT. Corteva Agriscience
Manufacturing Indonesia.
PT. Corteva Agriscience Seed
Indonesia.
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XIPT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia

15

13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.

Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MZIR098
Herbicides tolerant and insect resistant corn stacked
event BT11xGA21
Herbicide tolerant corn event T25
Herbicide tolerant soybean event A55547-127
High oleic acid and herbicide tolerant soybean event
305423
Herbicide tolerant canola event DP73496
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
59122
Herbicides tolerant soybean event DAS-44406-6
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant soybean event
DAS-81419-2
Herbicides tolerant corn event DAS-402789
Herbicide tolerant soybean FG72
Drought tolerant wheat event IND-00412-7
Insect resistant corn event MON 810
Herbicide tolerant soybean event GTS 40-3-2
Herbicide tolerant soybean event A2704-12
Herbicide tolerant soybean event MON 87708
Herbicide tolerant and enzyme inhibitor canola event
MS8
Herbicide tolerant and enzyme inhibitor canola event
RF3
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MON 88017
Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant corn event
MON 89034xNK603
Drought tolerant corn event MON 87460
Herbicide tolerant corn event MON 87427
Herbicide tolerant canola event MS8xRF3Canola MS11
Herbicide tolerant soybean event MON 89788
Herbicide tolerant canola event MS11xRF3Herbicide tolerant corn event DP202216-6

PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. DuPont Indonesia
PT. Dow Agrosciences
Indonesia
PT. Dow AgroSciences
Indonesia
PT. Dow Agrosciences
Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Ravindo Sukses Mulia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Bayer Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Branita Sandhini
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Corteva Agriscience Seed
Indonesia.
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia

Corn event Bt11xMIR162xMON89034xGA21
Corn event Bt11xMIR162xGA21
Corn event
3272xBt11xMIR162xMIR604xTC1507x5307xGA21
Soybean stacked event FG72xA5547-127
PT. BASF Indonesia(LibertyLink GT27)

16

44.
45.

Soybean event GMB151
Corn event DP4114

46. Cotton event LLCotton25
47. Coton GHB614
For Environmental Safety
1. Herbicide tolerant cotton event MON 1445
2. Insect resistant cotton event MON 531
3. Drought tolerant sugarcane event NXI-1T
4. Drought tolerant sugarcane event NXI-4T
5. Drought tolerant sugarcane event NXI-6T
6. Herbicide tolerant corn event NK 603
7. Herbicide tolerant corn event GA21
8. Late blight resistant potato Katahdin event SP951
9.
10.

PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Corteva Agriscience Seed
Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. BASF Indonesia
PT. Monsanto Indonesia
PT. Monsanto Indonesia
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XI
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XI
PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XI
PT. Branita. Sandhini
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
ICABIOGRAD, Ministry ofAgriculture
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia
PT. Syngenta Seed Indonesia

Insect resistant corn event BT 11
Herbicides tolerant and insect resistant corn stacked
event BT11xGA21
Source: Biosafety Clearing House, Secretary of BCGEP, and the Directorate of Processed FoodStandardization of NADFC (in Indonesian) (2023)
Note: In 1999, BCGEP approved environmental safety for Roundup Ready (RR) cotton and Bt
cotton. The Bt cotton received a limited variety release approval from MOA for planting in South
Sulawesi province in 2001. The approval was extended on a yearly basis until 2003 when thecompany responsible for commercialization halted use.
Currently BCGEP conducts an environmental safety assessment of semi-dwarf rice (a genome
editing product). This product is a result of collaboration among ICABIOGRAD, IPB University,
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and University of Sebelas Maret.
The below table provides information on non-crop products that have received feed orenvironmental safety approvals:
Table 4. Non-Crop GE Products with Feed or Environmental Safety Approvals
No.
Product
Applicant
For Feed Safety
1.
Ronozyme AX (CT)PT. DSM Nutritional ProductIndonesia
For Environmental Safety
1.
GE vaccine Ingelvac Circoflex for animal
Boehringer Ingelheim Indonesia
2.
GE vaccine Vectormune HV NDV + Rispens PT. Ceva Animal Health Indonesia
for poultry
3.
GE vaccine HimmvacDalguban N Plus Oil
PT. Blue Sky Biotech
for poultry

17

4.

GE vaccine HimmvacDalguban BEN Plus
PT. Blue Sky Biotech
Oil for poultry
5.
GE vaccine Vectormune HVT NDV for
PT. Ceva Animal Health Indonesia
poultry
6.
GE vaccine Vaxxitek HVT + IBD for poultry PT. RomindoPrimavetcom
7.
GE vaccine Nobilis rHVT-ND for poultry
PT. Intervet Indonesia
8.
GE vaccine Himmvac Dalguban BN Plus Oil PT. Blue Sky Biotech
for poultry
9.
GE vaccine Nobilis rHVT-ILT for poultry
PT. Intervet Indonesia
10.
GE vaccine Porcilis ®PCV M Hyo for
PT. Intervet Indonesia
animal11.
GE vaccine InnovaxTM-ND-IBD for poultry
PT Intervet Indonesia
12.
GE vaccine Rabitec
PT. Ceva Animal Health Indonesia
Source: Biosafety Clearing House and Secretary of BCGEP (2023)

c) STACKED or PYRAMIDED EVENT APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS:
Environmental safety approval for stacked events is similar to a single event approval. Such GE
crops must undergo laboratory and biosafety containment tests (i.e. proving the crop will not leave
the laboratory), confined field trials, and an environmental risk analysis. GOI has decided that theexisting food and feed safety approval process for single events can be used for stacked events,
meaning that stacked events made up of approved single events do not need separate approval. In
April 2021, BPOM issued Regulation No. 10/2021 on Standards of Business Activities and Productson the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licenses in the Drug and Food Sector. This
regulation has included a guideline on the food assessments addressing stacked event products.
d) FIELD TESTING:
Limited GE plant field trials are conducted under Government Regulation No. 21/2005 and are
subject to the Guideline of Agricultural Biotechnology Products from Genetically Engineering,
Series: Plant (2006). The recent MOA regulation 38/2019 supersedes regulation No. 40/2017 and No.
61/2011, which provide procedures for testing, evaluating, releasing, and withdrawing food crops andestate crops varieties, including GE crops. This regulation also includes aspects of the environmental
safety approval process and field trials. Under this regulation, limited field trials for theenvironmental safety assessment can be done in parallel with the adaptation trial for variety release.
Furthermore, if the GE crop comes from approved conventional hybrids, the product will not require
multi-location field trials and will only require a single location field trial from one planting period.
e) INNOVATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES:In January 2020, biotech stakeholders including regulators, academia, researchers, and industry
conducted a meeting to discuss a new draft regulation related to innovative biotechnologies, such as
genome editing by using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)
technology and other techniques. The meeting was hosted by the LIPI’s Biotech Research Center andresulted in a draft regulation for innovative biotechnologies. According to BCGEP, a basic concept for
genome editing product to be approved is:- End product contains no foreign genes

18

- Based on classification of Site Directed Nuclease (SDN): SDN-1 and SDN-2- Assessment based on characterization of molecular and phenotype.
Therefore, genome editing products will be excluded from the regulatory framework of GE products.
BCGEP will appoint a team to reformulate more detailed criteria and requirements for genome editing
products. The following process flow was prepared to demonstrate the scheme for approving genome
edited products:
Figure 5. Genome Editing Regulation

Source: Prof. Bambang Prasetya’s Presentation on “APEC HLPDAB Webinar: The Regulation of
Genome Edited Products and Its Challenges” 2022f) COEXISTENCE:
Indonesia has no national policy on co-existence.
g) LABELING AND TRACEABILITY:
The BPOM issued a regulation on food labeling controls for GE products in March 2012,
implementing a 1999 regulation that requires labels and special logos for food containing GE
ingredients. According to this regulation, packaged food that contains at least 5 percent GE products
must be labeled with the statement “Food Containing Genetically Engineered Material.” The 5
percent threshold level is measured as the content percentage of Deoxyribo Nucleid Acid (DNA) of
GE product against the DNA of non-GE products. This 2012 regulation has since been superseded
by Regulation No. 6/2018 (link in Indonesian) on Supervising of Genetically Engineered Products.
However, there is no change on the procedures of GE product labeling.

19h) MONITORING AND TESTING:
Government Regulation No. 21/2005 on Biosafety of Genetically Engineered Products requires theestablishment of a monitoring and control system for the cultivation of GE crops. In December 2020,
the Ministry of Agriculture issued Regulation No. 50/2020 regarding the monitoring and control oncrop varieties of agricultural GE products distributed in Indonesia. The monitoring on GE crops is
conducted by routine monitoring and case reporting. The routine monitoring conducted by the permit
holder must be done in the third year since the GE crop is traded. This monitoring which is carried out
for three consecutive years is to find out the impact of the GE crop on livestock health andenvironment. This routine monitoring will be conducted through a survey by interviewing the farmers
using a questionnaire, analyzing scientific papers, and analyzing agriculture environmental data. A
case reporting will be conducted in cases where any negative impacts of the GE crop on the health ofhuman and/or animal, as well to the environment are found. This case report is submitted to the
Minister of Agriculture by the permit holder, the related government institutions, and/or the farmers
or the public.
i) LOW LEVEL PRESENCE (LLP) POLICY:
Indonesia is a member of the Global Low-Level Presence Initiative (GLI), a group of countries thathave endorsed the International Statement on LLP and committed to working collaboratively todevelop international approaches to manage LLP. In October 2020, Indonesia became the co-chair of
GLI meeting that was held virtually, due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
j) ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS:
MOA Regulation No. 38/2019 distinguishes the procedure on the testing, evaluation, and releasingof non-GE (conventional) and GE seed varieties. The requestor of proposed conventional seedvarieties must submit the application to the respective Director General. For example, the corn seedvariety release application should be sent to the DG of Food Crops, while a potato seed application isaddressed to the DG of Horticulture. However, the process of GE seed varieties release, either GE
food crops, estate crops, horticulture, or plants for animal feed, is under the authority of the DG of
Agricultural Research and Development Agency. The requestor sends the application that isaddressed to the DG of ARDA through the CPVPAL electronically. The Minister of Agriculture
establishes a Variety Release Team – Genetically Engineered Product (VRT – GEP), which is led by
the DG of ARDA. The DG of ARDA determines the adaptation/conformity, observation, and seedproducibility testing methods. The adaptation or conformity trial can be done after or parallel withthe limited field trial for an environmental safety assessment. The requestor must also submit asocio-economic study. The VRT-GEP verifies and supervises the testing, receives the testing result
report from the requestor, evaluates and assesses the report, as well as issues the recommendation
letter for variety release. A variety can be released if it has had the following documents:
a. biosafety certificates, which include an environmental safety certificate, a food safety certificate,and/or a feed safety certificate;b. a recommendation for release from the VRT;c. a summary of final testing result report;
d. an approval letter for variety name;e. a statement from the owner that the breeder seed will be available in sufficient amounts forfurther propagation; andf. a plan of production seed development for the next five years.

20

To import a new hybrid GE seed variety, the importer must provide a guaranteed letter states that theF1 hybrid seed will be produced in Indonesia within two years after the date of release. In the case of
F1 hybrid paddy seed, they must guarantee that the seed will be produced in Indonesia within three
years after the release. Meanwhile, the F1 estate crops hybrid seed must be produced in Indonesia
within three years for seasonal crops and six years for annual crops after the release. The variety
name of GE crops must be added with the GE event code. Meanwhile, the variety name of GE cropsthat is originated from the released variety must use the released variety name with the added GE
event code.
k) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR):
Law No. 13/2016 on the Patent Act and Law No. 28/2014 on the Copyright Act addresses IPR,
providing inventors with exclusive rights. Additionally, Law No. 29/2000 on Plant Variety
Protection regulates intellectual property of new plants varieties. The breeder or the plant variety’s
right holder may use their own plant variety or license it to others to use for a specified period. The
MOA’s Center of Plant Variety Protection and Agricultural License manages new plant variety
registration.
l) CARTAGENA PROTOCOL RATIFICATION:
In 2004 Indonesia ratified the Cartagena Protocol through Government Regulation No. 21/2004
concerning Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity. As a Cartagena Protocol ratification
country, Indonesia has:
 assigned the Ministry of Environment as the National Focal Point of the Cartagena Protocol;
 appointed the Ministries/Agencies to be the National Competent Authority of the Cartagena
Protocol; published Government Regulation No. 21/2005 concerning the Biosafety of GeneticallyEngineered Products; and established the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH)
More details can be found at the Indonesia BCH’s website.
m) INTERNATIONAL TREATIES and FORUMS:
Indonesia is a member of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the Codex
Alimentarius (Codex). However, Indonesia has not taken any significant positions pertaining tobiotechnology in these forums. Indonesia actively participates in the APEC High Level Policy
Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB) and hosted the 2013 APEC annual meeting,including the APEC HLPDAB. In addition, Indonesia has participated in the Global Low-Level
Presence (LLP) Initiative forum. BPOM’s National Food and Drug Testing Center is Indonesia focal
point of ASEAN Genetically Modified Food and Feed Testing Network (GMFNet) and is involved in
its activities. In July 2021, Indonesia virtually participated in the ASEAN GMFNet workshop.
n) RELATED ISSUES:In July 2019, the Deputy for Food and Agriculture Coordination, Coordinating Ministry for
Economic Affairs, in collaboration with the Director General (DG) of Agricultural Research andDevelopment Center, Ministry of Agriculture, and BCGEP issued the 2020 – 2045 Roadmap of GE
Seeds Development, which provides a reference to related government agencies and stakeholders in21

developing the production and the use of locally produced GE seeds to achieve food security andimprove farmers’ income. The GE crops mentioned in the report and predicted to be commercialized
and planted in Indonesia were rice, corn, sugar cane, and potato.
The scope of the roadmap includes a) the economic advantages, b) the strategic factors of GE seeddevelopment, c) the strategic analysis of GE seed development, d) the strategies of GE seeddevelopment, and e) the actions plan. The roadmap focuses on five strategic targets: (1) achieving
self-sufficiency in rice, corn, and soybeans, and increasing sugar production; (2) increasing fooddiversification; (3) increasing value added and competitiveness of commodities for export andimport substitution; (4) supplying bio industry and bioenergy raw materials; and (5) increasing
farmers’ incomes. The targets for GE seed development are: 1) increasing availability of GE seeds,
especially food crop seeds with traits adapted to conditions in Indonesia; 2) protecting and using
national genetic resources to develop seed varieties; 3) guaranteeing environmental safety, foodsafety, and feed safety of GE seed varieties; 4) fulfilling private/industrial sector involvement insupplying GE seeds. In terms of specific actions, the roadmap specifies the following activities: 1)
strengthening research on various characteristics of GE seeds; 2) providing financial support for thebiosafety assessment submissions of government research institutes/universities; 3) maintaining andprotecting genetic resources; 4) utilizing superior properties of genetic resources; 5) strengthening
system and legislation in biosafety assessment of GE products; 6) strengthening the institutions ofbiosafety assessment and examination of GE products; 7) strengthening partnership cooperation
between private and public sector GE seed research and development; 8) providing incentives andfacilities for industry actively engaged in GE seed research and development. Please see the tables
below on the targets of GE seeds research and production, a priority research of GE seeddevelopment, a roadmap of GE seed development, and the action plan.
Table 5. GE Seed Production and Research Targets (2020 – 2045)

No.

Crop

GEP
Character
TH
TP

1.

Corn
TSH
TK
TP

2.

Rice

TSH

Type of Program
Seed Production
Research
Assembly
Production
Seed Production
Seed Production
Safety Testing
Research on resistanceto plant diseases
Assembly
Production
Research on resistanceto pest attacks
Assembly
Production

2020 2025
X
X

X

Periods
2026 2035
X
X
X

X

X
X
X

X

X
X

X

2036 - 2045
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X

X
X
22

TCL

Research on tolerance
XX
to abiotic stress
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
FN
Research on
fortification of proX
X
X
vitamin A, iron
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
TH
Research on herbicide
X
X
tolerance
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
TSH
Research on resistanceX
X
to pest attacks
3.
SoybeanAssembly
X
X
Production
X
TCL
Research on tolerance
XX
to abiotic stress
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
TP
Research on disease
X
X
resistance
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
4
PotatoTSH
Research on resistanceX
X
to pest attacks
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
TCL
Research on tolerance
to drought, low pH,
X
X
heat, salinity
Assembly
X
X
Sugar
Production
X
5.
cane
PR
Research on increasing
X
X
sugar content
Assembly
X
X
Production
X
Note: TH = herbicide tolerant; TP = disease resistant; TSH = insect pests resistant; TVP = pathogenic
viruses resistant; TCL = environmental stress resistant; FN = Nutritional fortification; PP =increased productivity; PR = increase sugar content

23

Table 6. Roadmap of GE Seed Development

OBJECT

MarketProduct

Technology

Research andDevelopment

Resource

ROADMAP of GE SEEDS DEVELOPMENT
2020 - 2025
2026 - 2035
2036 - 2045
Farmer, industry, export(Accelerated commercialization with the existing
technology)

 HT corn seed
(Period I)
 TSH paddy
seed (Period I)
 TCL sugar
cane seed(Period I)
 TP potato seed
(Period I)

 TSH, TH, TCL
soybean seed
(Period II) TP, TH potato
seed, (Period II)
 TSH, TVP, TH,
TCL, EPUH
paddy seed
(Period II) TCL, RT sugar
cane seed(Period II)
Assembly of GEP Seed Improvement New character  Genetic
explorationengineeringand integration  Reverse cross Geneticwith popularengineering
varieties
 Reverse crosswith popularvarieties

SUBJECT
Farmer, Cooperative,
Industry player,
Association, Exporter,
BULOG, Government

Resistant todowny mildew
corn seed(Period III)
TSH, TVP,
TH, TCL,
EPUH paddy
seed (Period
III)

Government,
University, Researchand Development
Institution, Industry,State-owned
Enterprises

Seed
Development
 Geneticengineering Reverse crosswith popularvarieties

Government,
University, Researchand Development
Institution, Industry,State-own EnterprisesApplied Research, Development Research, Results
Dissemination, and Continuous Improvement

Genetic resources, existing technology, budget, facilities andinfrastructure, human resources, science and technology,
intellectual property rights, data, and information

Government,
University, Researchand Development
Institution, Industry,State-owned
Enterprises
Government,
University, Researchand Development
Institution, Industry,State-owned
Enterprises
24Note: TH = herbicide tolerant; TP = disease resistant; TSH = insect pests resistant; TVP = pathogenic
viruses resistant; TCL = environmental stress resistant; FN = Nutritional fortification; PP =increased productivity; EPUH = efficient use of nutrients

Table 7. The Targets and Strategies of GE Seed Development
TARGET
1. The availability of GE crop seeds,
especially food crop that has superiority
over biotic and abiotic stresses and is inaccordance with Indonesian conditions.

2. Achieved maintenance, protection, andutilization of national genetic resources
for GE superior variety development.

3. Guaranteed biosafety for produced
superior GE seeds

4. Fulfilment of private sector
engagement in providing GE superior
seeds.

STRATEGIES
1. Strengthening of research on various
superior characteristics of GE crop
seeds.
2. Provision of financial support forsuperior GE seed product applications
by government research institutes/
universities.
1. Conservation and protection of genetic
resources that have superiority forproviding GE superior seeds.
2. Superiority characteristics utilizationof the superior genetic resources for GE
superior seed assembly.
3. Strengthening of regulations forguaranteed development and utilizationof GE products.
1. Strengthening of systems andlegislation in the GE biosafetyassessment and examination.
2. Strengthening of GE biosafetyassessment and examination institution.
3. Revitalization and strengthening of
biotechnology
institutions/organizations which
promote and advocate GE products.
4. Strengthening of regulations forguaranteed development and utilizationof GE products.
1. Strengthening of research anddevelopment GE seed partnershipcollaboration between government/
university research institutes with R&D
industrial/private.
2. Provision of incentives and facilities
for actively involved industries in the
research and development of GE
superior seeds.

25

5. The utilization of GE seeds by farmers.

6. The acceptance of GE food / feed by
the community (consumers andindustries).

3. Strengthening of regulations for theguaranteed development and utilizationof GE products.
1. The evidence that GE seeds canincrease production and productivity ofbiotech crops.
2. Economic calculation socialization of
the GE seeds utilization that is more
profitable than other seeds.
1. Outreach to the consumers about foodsafety and environmental safety ofbiotech crops.
2. The media utilization for explaining to
the community that the biotech plants
are environmentally friendly and havethe similar of better food quality thanthe other products.

Table 8. The Strategies and Programs
STRATEGIES
1. Strengthening of research on various
superiority characteristics of GE plantseeds.

2. Providing of financial supports for GE
superior seed product applications by thegovernment research
institutions/universities.
3. The conservation and protection ofsuperiority genetic resources for providing
GE superior seeds.

PROGRAMS
1. Basic research on plant superior
characteristic identification to biotic andabiotic stress for GE plant development.
2. Basic research on plants superior
characteristic identification in terms of
productivity and nutritional prevalence for
the GE plant development.
3. Research and development of superior
characteristics integration in assembly GE
plant superior seeds.
1. The financing availability collateral for
GE plant superior seed applications.
2. Incentives for GE plant superior seeds
developers and inventors.
1. Strengthening of conservation andprotection of superior plant genetic
resources through gene bank facility
establishment.
2. Strengthening of conservation andprotection of superior plant genetic
resources through collection laboratory andnursery establishment.

26

4. The utilization of superior genetic
resource superiority characteristics for GE
superior seed assembly.

5. Strengthening of regulations forguaranteed GE development andutilization.

6. Strengthening of the system andlegislations in biosafety assessments andexaminations of GE products.

7. Strengthening of the biosafety
examination and assessment institution of
GE products.

8. Strengthening of GE seeds research anddevelopment partnership collaboration
between the government research
institutes/universities with the researchand development industries/privates.

9. The provision of incentives and facilities
for the industries that actively involved inresearch and development of GE superior
seeds.

3. The protections and incentives for breeders
and developers of local genetic resource
superior seeds.
1. The applied research to produce GE plantsuperior seeds.
2. The socio-economic assessment of GE
plant superior seeds application for the
farmers’ welfare.
1. Review and anticipation of changes to thevalid legislations, anticipating the biotech
product utilization new development
sharing.
2. Comparative studies of biotech
legislations in several countries forregulators and the member of parliamentand related ministries officials.
1. The existing legislations assessment;
revision, enhancement, and creation of
new legislation.
2. Revising the existing framework so that it
can function properly.
3. The issuance of new guidelines anticipates
the science and technology developmentof GE seed production.
1. Revitalizing and strengthening of BCGEP
and its supporting organization means.
2. Strengthening and capacity building of
BCGEP and TTB members throughknowledge and skills enhancement
activities.
3. Streamlining of existing rules andmechanisms, so they are more efficient.
1. Identification and inventory of theuniversities and government institutions
research results that have opportunities tobe offered to the industries/R&D privates.
2. The cost and benefit sharing for developingof GE superior seeds that are cooperated
between the government research
institutes/universities with the industries.
1. Tax relief (tax holiday/exemption) for
institutions that are developing the R&D bythemselves/collaboration with thegovernment research institutions/
universities.

27

Table 9. The Action PlanNO.

ACTION PLAN

INDICATOR

1.

Strengthening ofresearch on various
superior
characteristics of
GE plant seeds.

The availability of GE
food crop seeds that havesuperiority to stress biotic
and abiotic as well as
appropriate with theIndonesian conditions.
The achievement of basic
research on plants
superior characteristics
identification to biotic andstress abiotic for GE
plants development.
The achievement of basic
research on identificationof plants superior
characteristics in terms of
productivity andnutritional prevalence for
the GE plants
development.
The achievement ofresearch and developmentof superior characteristics
integration in assembly
GE plant superior seeds.
The establishment offinancing availability
collateral for applications
of GE plant superior
seeds.
The availability of
incentives for GE plant2.

Provision offinancial support
for applications of
GE superior seedproducts bygovernment
research

TARGET YEARS
2020 – 2025

2026 - 2035

2036 - 2045

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

RESPONSIBLE
AGENCIES
 MOA
 LIPI MORT HE

RELATEDINSTITUTIONS CMEA
 NPA
 MOF
 MOH
 MOT
 BPOM Universities
 Business actors

 MOA
 MOF








CMEA
NPA
MOHA
MOH
MOT
LIPI

28

institutions/universi
ties.

3.

The conservationand protection ofgenetic resourcesthat haveadvantages ofproviding GE
superior seeds.

superior seeds inventors
and developers.
The arrangement of adraft of Government
Regulation on thefinancing availability
collateral for GE plantsuperior seeds and the
incentives for GE plantsuperior seeds inventors
and developer.
The arrangement ofregulations onconservation, protection,and utilization of national
genetic for GE superiorvarieties development.
The arrangement ofregulations on
strengthening ofconservation andprotection of superior
plants genetic resources
through the establishmentof gene bank facilities.
The arrangement ofregulations on
strengthening ofconservation andprotection of superior
plants genetic resources
through collection
laboratories and nurseries
development.
The availability of
incentives for local
genetic resources superior

X

X






BPOM
LG
Universities
Business actors







CMEA
MOF
MOH
Universities
Business actors

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

 MOA
 MOEF LIPI

29

4.

5.

6.

7.

The superiority
characteristics
utilization of thesuperior genetic
resources for GE
superior seeds
assembly.

Strengthening of
the systems and thelegislations in thebiosafety
assessment andexamination of GE
products.

Strengthening of
the biosafetyassessment andexaminations
institution of GE
products.

Strengthening of
GE seeds researchand development

seeds breeders/developers.
The achievement ofapplied research for
producing GE plants
superior seeds
The arrangement of socioeconomic assessments of
GE plants superior seeds
application for farmers’
welfare.
The arrangement of new
guidelines for anticipating
the science andtechnology developmentof GE seeds production.
The arrangement of therevisions to the publishedregulations (BPOM,
MOA, MOEF) that canhamper the GE products
release.
The establishment ofrevitalization andstrengthening BCGEP
and its supportingorganization means.
The establishment ofstrengthening andcapacity building of
BCGEP and TTB
members throughknowledge and skills
enhancement activities.
The establishment ofpartnerships with thebusiness actors/ private

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

 MOA
 LIPI CMEA Universities






BCGEP
MOA
MOEF
BPOM











BCGEP
MOA
MOEF
BPOM

 CMEA LIPI Universities

 MOA
 NPA

CMEA
LIPI
Universities
Business actors

 CMEA MOI

30

partnershipcollaboration
between thegovernment
research institutes/
universities withthe research anddevelopment
industries/private
institutions.

8.

The provision of
incentives andfacilities for thenational industries
that are actively
involved in the
R&D of superior
GE seeds.

sector in providing
superior GE seeds.
The arrangement of theidentification andinventory of thegovernment institutional
and universities research
results that have chances
to be offered to R&D
industries/private
institutions.
The arrangement ofregulations on cost andbenefit sharing fordeveloping GE superior
seeds that is collaborated
between the government
research
institutes/universities with
the industries.
The arrangement ofregulations on tax relief(tax holiday/ exemption)for industries/private
sectors that developed
R&D by themselves/incooperation withgovernment research
institutes/universities.
The arrangement of adraft of Government
Regulation on provisionof incentives and facilities
for the industries that are
actively involved in the
research and developmentof superior GE seeds.

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

 MORT HE
 MOF






 MOA
 MOF

 CMEA
 MOI
 The Cabinet
Secretary The State
Secretary
 LIPI Universities

LIPI
BPOM
Universities
Business actors

X

31

The availability of MOA CMEAlegislations that are able
 MOEFto arrange GE products in LIPI
accordance with the needs
X
XX BPPOM
and developments of the Universities
latest science and Business actors
technology.
The availability of an
integrated system to speed
up the process of GE
assessments andX
X
X
examinations to shorten
the waiting period of
biosafety approvalaccomplishment.
Note: MOA = Ministry of Agriculture; LIPI = Indonesian Institute of Science; MORT HE = Ministry of Research & Technology Higher
Education; CMEA = Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs; NPA = National Planning Agency; MOF = Ministry of Finance; MOH= Ministry of Health; MOT = Ministry of Trade; BPOM = National Agency of Drug and Food Control; MOHA = Ministry of Home
Affairs; LG = Local Government; MOEF = Ministry of Environment & Forestry; BCGEP = Biosafety Commission for GeneticallyEngineered Product; MOI = Ministry of Industry
9.

Strengthening theregulations toensure thedevelopment andutilization of GE
products.

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The GOI, through Presidential Regulation No. 18/2020 on the National Medium-Term Development
Plan (RPJMN) for 2020-2024 issued in January 2020, has included biotechnology and GE products
as efforts in supporting the national program of stunting eradication through bio-fortification. One of
the strategies in improving the availability, access, and quality of food consumption is increasing thequality of consumption, safety, fortification, and bio-fortification of food. The implementation ofthis strategy includes the development of bio-fortified rice seeds and GE products, rice fortification,
development of food nanotechnology, local food development, and food diversification at thecommunity level, as well as providing and improving the quality of food for school-aged children.

PART C: MARKETINGa) PUBLIC/PRIVATE OPINIONS:
Several Indonesian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) occasionally oppose the production anduse of GE plants, although their intended targets are usually multi-national companies that develop
GE crops.
Modeled on the success of the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines, a pro-biotech advocacy
association, the Society of Indonesian Agricultural Biotechnology (previously named the Indonesian
Coalition on Agricultural Biotechnology [ICAB]) was formed in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on
July 4, 2012, during the 5th Indonesia Biotechnology Conference for supporting the adoption ofagricultural biotechnology in Indonesia. More information regarding ICAB can be seen at GAIN
Report ID1226. In addition, the National Outstanding Farmers and Fishermen Association (KTNA)
has stated their strong support for planting GE crops, as they believe the technology can greatly
improve the livelihoods of their families.
b) MARKET ACCEPTANCE/STUDIES:
Indonesian farmers are open to using new technologies including biotechnology. There is broad
support for the technology from farmer organizations.
Due to a lack of information and general knowledge about biotechnology, consumers are morehesitant if they know their food contains GE products. Nonetheless, Indonesians have widely
consumed GE soybean derived tempeh and tofu for the last three decades. To gain a better
understanding of the Indonesian public’s understanding, perception, and attitude towards agricultural
biotechnology and in particular GE food crops, Post collaborated with Michigan State University,
CropLife Indonesia, and the Indonesia Biotechnology Information Center (IndoBIC) to conduct a
consumer survey of public acceptance towards GE foods in 2020. The summary of the study can beseen in the form of an infographic at this link and the full report of the study can be found here.

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CHAPTER 2: ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGYPART D: PRODUCTION AND TRADEa) RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT:
Some research institutions and local universities have reportedly conducted studies on molecularmarkers. This includes genetic research on local rhinos, cows, bulls, and chickens using genemarkers, identification of animal characteristics to heat tolerance and feed utilization, poultry
resistance to Newcastle disease, and characteristics of rapid growth and disease resistance incommon carp and catfish. This research is far from commercial release, except for catfish. Sources
reported that the University of Padjadjaran succeeded in developing transgenic Mutiara catfish(Clarias gariepinus). The third generation of this fish was 2-3 times larger compared to nontransgenic fish in the commercial feed test for 6 weeks of rearing. In addition, research on cloning
using simple splitting techniques and somatic cell transfer methods has been done, though to date theresults have yielded no significant reports or product development.
b) COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION:
There is no commercial production of GE animals or cloned animals in Indonesia.
c) EXPORTS:
Indonesia does not export any GE animal to the United States or any other country.
d) IMPORTS:
Indonesia has not imported any GE animals from any other countries.
e) TRADE BARRIERS:
No information is available.

PART E: POLICYa) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK:
Currently, there is no regulatory framework specifically for GE animals. However, the Ministry ofAgriculture is planning to begin creating the regulation in the near future. Therefore, at this moment
the assessment of GE animals, including cloning, will be similar GE crops. Please refer to regulatory
framework section of Part B: Policy section of Plant Biotechnology for more details.
b) APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS:
There are no approvals for the commercial use of GE animals.
c) INNOVATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES:
No information is available.
d) LABELING AND TRACEABILITY:
Similar to plant biotechnology requirements. Please refer to labeling and traceability section of Part
B: Policy section of Plant Biotechnology.

34e) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR):
Similar to crops, IPR for animal production will follow Law 13/2016 on the Patent Act and Law
28/2014 on the Copyright Act.
f) INTERNATIONAL TREATIES/FORUMS:
Indonesia is a member of the Codex Alimentarius (Codex), World Organization of Animal Health(OIE), and APEC High-Level Policy Dialog on Agricultural Biotechnology. Therefore, Indonesia
frequently sends their officials to these forums.
g) RELATED ISSUES:The Development Matrix of the National Medium Term Development Plan 2020 – 2024 (Appendix
III of Presidential Regulation No. 18/2020 on the National Medium Term Development Plan
(RPJMN) for 2020 – 2024), has included the research and innovation of modern biotechnology forsuperior beef cattle and superior local chicken starting from 2021 in West Java province with theIndonesia Institute of Science (LIPI) as an implementing agency.

PART F: MARKETINGa) PUBLIC/PRIVATE OPINIONS:
Public and private sentiment regarding GE or cloned animals is not well-established.
b) MARKET ACCEPTANCE/STUDIES:
Currently there are no studies on market acceptance of cloned or GE animals. It can be expected thatIndonesian consumers will demonstrate the same or stronger hesitancy towards GE or cloned
animals as they currently do towards other GE products.

CHAPTER 3: MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGYPART G: PRODUCTION AND TRADEa) COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION
Post is not aware of any production of GE microbes for food in Indonesia.
b) EXPORTS
Indonesia exports processed products, which may contain microbial biotech-derived foodingredients.
c) IMPORTS
Indonesia imports significant volumes of products that often contain microbial biotech-derived foodingredients. In 2022, Indonesia imported nearly 711,000 MT of dairy products, nearly 263,000 MTof processed food products such as snack foods, prepared foods, condiments, and breakfast cereals,
and over 5,200 MT of wine and beer. Additionally, Indonesia imported nearly 7,000 MT of various
enzymes, a decrease of over 5 percent from 2021. Although Post is unable to discern the precise
35

number of products and products containing ingredients derived from microbial biotechnology
within this volume, the global commonplace use of microbial biotechnology to produce foodingredients makes their inclusion highly likely.
d) TRADE BARRIERSPost is unaware any trade disruption for microbial biotech-derived food ingredients or processed
products containing microbial biotech-derived food ingredients, such as enzymes.

PART H: POLICYa) REGULATORY FRAMEWORKRegulations on GE microbes that contain DNA and/or protein follow the biosafety regulations forbiotechnology products. GE microbes should undergo risk assessment for either food safety or
environmental safety. For more details, please refer to part B section a. Since GE microbes are
utilized for food production, they should also follow the regulation from BPOM, such as theregulation for food additives and/or food processing aid.
Please see below the scheme of the assessment of GE processing aid, based on BPOM’s regulation
No. 6/2018 on Supervision of GE Food Products:

Figure 6. The Assessment of GE Processing Aid
GE Processing Aid

Does the GE processing aid
contain GE DNA and/or GE
protein?

YESNO

GE Food Safety
Assessment

No need GE Food
Safety assessment

36

The documents required for the GE processing aid assessment are as follows:1.
The specification of processing aid product: name, stability (pH, temperature, time), andoptimum conditions.
2.
Production strains and host strains.
3.
The source of the genes, the inserted genes (structure and sequence), and the plasmid used
(structure and sequence).
4.
The applied genetic engineering process.
5.
Production and refining processes of GE processing aid.
6.
Methods of proving the absence of DNA in the final product (such as: PCR, description of
reproduced genes and size, as well as the primary sequence).
7.
Application information for the use of GE processing aid in food products, including theirprocessing.
8.
Approval from the other countries that produce it and/or use it.

b) APPROVALS/AUTHORIZATIONS:
Table 10. Microbial biotech-derived products that have Food Safety Approvals
No.
Product
Food Safety
1.
Ice Structuring Protein
2.
2’-fucosyllactose (2-FL)

Institution
PT. Unilever Indonesia
PT. Abbott Products Indonesiac) LABELING and TRACEABILITY
Please refer to part B section g.
d) MONITORING AND TESTING
No information is available.
e) ADDITIONAL REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
No information is available.
f) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR)
Please refer to Part B Section k.
g) RELATED ISSUES
No information is available.

PART I: MARKETINGa) PUBLIC/PRIVATE OPINIONSThe general public in Indonesia does not have a strong positive or negative perception of GE
microbes. This stems from a general lack of understanding about GE microbes and their use in foodingredients or other additives or consumed the food.

37b) MARKET ACCEPTANCE/STUDIES
No information is available.

Attachments:
No Attachments

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