First, the overview: five categories at a glance
| Category | Regulator | Mandatory permit | Lead time | We accept |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dangerous goods (IMDG) | Carrier + Customs + Port | MSDS in Indonesian, packing certificate, DG declaration | Tied to vessel schedule; book early | 3 ports |
| Out-of-gauge / reefer | Carrier + Customs | Over-dimension declaration, lashing plan approval | Tied to vessel schedule | All types |
| Food & beverage | BPOM + BPJPH + Ministry of Agriculture | ML number + halal + per-shipment SKI | ML 1–6 months; halal 4–6 months | Accepted |
| Cosmetics | BPOM + BPJPH | NA number + per-shipment SKI Border + CoA | NA ~1–6 months; SKI per shipment | Accepted |
| PI / LS / SNI | Ministry of Trade + Industry + certification body | PI + LS + SPPT-SNI | PI 3–14 days; LS 5–20 days; SNI 3–6 months | Accepted |
Five categories in detail
① Dangerous goods (IMDG)3 ports
Indonesia's three main ports — Jakarta (Tanjung Priok), Semarang (Tanjung Emas) and Surabaya (Tanjung Perak) — are all verified as equipped to handle IMDG dangerous goods.
Acceptance by class
| IMDG class | Acceptance position |
|---|---|
| Class 3 flammable liquids / Class 8 corrosives / Class 9 miscellaneous | Routine acceptance |
| Class 2.3 toxic gases / 4.2 spontaneously combustible / 4.3 dangerous when wet / 5.2 organic peroxides / 6.2 infectious substances | Carrier approval per shipment |
| Class 1 explosives / Class 7 radioactive material | Generally not accepted |
Within the same class, different UN numbers can produce different outcomes — the final answer is the carrier's approval of that specific UN number.
⚠️ Terminal storage limits for DG (more critical than the rate)
| Class | Terminal storage limit |
|---|---|
| Class 1 / Class 7 | No storage allowed Direct truck load / load |
| Class 2.1 / 2.3 / 5.1 / 5.2 / 6.1 | Maximum 24 hours |
| Class 2.2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6.2 / 8 / 9 | Import 72 hours / Export 96 hours |
Exceeding the limit is not a simple fine — the cargo is forcibly moved to an off-terminal temporary storage yard, at the cargo owner's cost. This is exactly where dangerous goods imports need the most forward planning: a 24-to-96-hour storage window is in direct conflict with the 7-to-14 days a red-lane customs inspection typically requires.
Documents required to book
- MSDS (Indonesian version) — Indonesian customs and carriers generally require Indonesian; English-only versions are often returned
- Packing certificate — packaging performance test result and use appraisal; a statutory DG document
- DG declaration — per IMDG format, with Proper Shipping Name (PSN), UN number, class and packing group
- GHS labels — with Indonesian hazard statements
- VGM weight declaration — weighing requirements are stricter for DG
② Out-of-gauge (OOG / flat rack / open top / reefer)All types
Container types and suitable cargo
| Type | Suitable cargo | Key constraint |
|---|---|---|
| Open top (OT) | Over-height: machinery, equipment | Top lashing, tarpaulin required |
| Flat rack (FR) | Over-width / over-length: large equipment | End and side lashing; plan needs carrier approval |
| Platform (PF) | Over-limit cargo with no walls | Case by case |
| Reefer (RF) | Temperature-controlled: food, chemicals | Continuous temperature recording; power-failure protection |
| Tank (TK) | Bulk liquids | Dual regulation: DG + special equipment |
Why OOG shipments go wrong
- Over-dimension must be declared in advance — the excess length, width, height and weight is reported to the carrier, who stows accordingly; incomplete declaration can mean refusal or re-stow, losing the vessel slot
- Lashing plan needs carrier pre-approval — especially flat racks and open tops; some carriers require a lashing drawing, and on-site non-compliance means refusal to load
- Reefer cargo needs defined parameters — set temperature, ventilation, humidity, all continuously logged
- Destination needs flatbed / low-bed trailers — over-limit cargo often cannot be delivered straight to the consignee; transshipment at the port is common, so confirm road conditions at the delivery point in advance
③ Food & beverageBPOM + Halal
The two core registrations
| Document | Purpose | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
| BPOM ML number | Imported food product registration | One per SKU — different flavours and pack sizes each need separate registration; valid 5 years; must be completed before shipment |
| SKI Post Border | Per-shipment import approval | Required for every shipment; must be completed within 7 working days after customs release |
| Halal certification | Halal certificate and Indonesian halal mark | Administered by BPJPH; mandatory from 2026-10-17; valid 4 years; meat, dairy and most processed foods require an on-site factory audit |
Three misconceptions Chinese exporters most often hold about halal
- Misconception 1: a Chinese halal certificate works directly. In practice, unless that Chinese body has a mutual recognition agreement with BPJPH, it is not directly accepted — the audit must be done through a BPJPH-recognised foreign body, then registered with BPJPH.
- Misconception 2: ship first, certify later. After 2026-10-17, uncertified products may not circulate. It is not a tariff-quota issue; it is a compliance-document issue — the documents are what stop you.
- Misconception 3: halal and BPOM registration are the same thing. They are two entirely separate processes run by two different agencies, and neither substitutes for the other.
Labelling
Import retail food labels must be in Indonesian. Mandatory elements: product name, ingredient list, net content, manufacturer or importer name and address, production date and batch number, shelf life, BPOM ML registration number, halal mark (where applicable), allergen information and nutrition facts. The importer name is introduced with "Diimpor/didistribusikan oleh". Font size and layout deviations also cause rejection — we recommend a label pre-check before the packaging is finalised.
Other prerequisites
- Remaining shelf life — Indonesia sets requirements on remaining shelf life for imported food; long supply chains need the timing worked out in advance
- China-side GACC registration — Chinese food exporters need GACC registration; for meat, seafood and dairy this is registered by factory
- Animal and plant quarantine — products containing animal or plant ingredients need a quarantine certificate from the agriculture authority
④ CosmeticsNA + SKI Border
Core documents
| Document | Key rules |
|---|---|
| BPOM NA number (product notification) | Valid 3 years; must be held by an Indonesian entity — a foreign brand appoints a local Indonesian company as holder via a Letter of Authority; renewal must be filed at least 30 days before expiry |
| SKI Border (border import approval) | Required for every shipment, and must be obtained before the cargo reaches customs; customs cross-checks the SKI against the cargo's NA number, product name and quantity — a mismatch means detention |
| Halal certification | Same as food & beverage — mandatory from 2026-10-17 |
⚠️ Mandatory testing for SKI Border (new in 2026 — the most common blocker)
Under BPOM Decision No. 627 of 2025 (effective 2026-01-08), SKI Border applications must include a Certificate of Analysis, and:
- Two mandatory test groups: microbiology + heavy metals
- Lead (Pb) testing primarily applies to baby products, massage oils, sheet masks
- Mercury (Hg) testing primarily applies to skin care, body care, sunscreen, whitening products
- For the vast majority of products, especially leave-on products, microbiological testing is required
- CoA validity: 1 year from the date of issue
- If not issued by the manufacturer, testing must be by an accredited laboratory against BPOM parameters
- For different batches of the same product, in addition to the full test certificate, batch information (at minimum dosage form and organoleptic indicators) must be supplied
Ingredient compliance: the main technical rejection reason in 2026
BPOM Regulation No. 25 of 2025 substantially revised the cosmetics prohibited and restricted ingredient lists, and is the governing standard for 2026. Before submission, we recommend an ingredient pre-check: item-by-item comparison against the prohibited list and verification that restricted ingredient concentrations are within permitted limits. A rejection for non-compliant ingredients sends the whole dossier back to the queue.
Also note: products claiming to treat, cure or prevent disease are not regulated as cosmetics in Indonesia, but as pharmaceuticals — get the classification wrong and the entire dossier has to be redone.
Labelling
Both primary and secondary packaging must be in Indonesian. Mandatory elements: NA number, full ingredient list (INCI names, with Indonesian where required), directions for use, Indonesian notification holder name and address, net content, batch number and expiry (or period-after-opening symbol), and required warnings.
⑤ PI / LS / SNILartas prerequisite
These three abbreviations are the easiest to confuse. First, the relationships:
| Document | Nature | Authority | Applies to | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PI (import approval) | Licence | Ministry of Trade (via INATRADE) | Per shipment / batch | 3–14 working days |
| LS (pre-shipment survey report) | Inspection certificate | Recognised Indonesian surveyor | Per shipment / batch, pre-shipment | 5–20 working days |
| SNI (mandatory national standard) | Product certification | Ministry of Industry + certification body (LSPro) | Per model, long-term | 3–6 months |
Key point: PI means "you may import", LS means "this shipment is what it says it is", SNI means "the product itself conforms". They stack; they do not substitute. A product with an SNI certificate still needs an LS report with each import batch to clear customs.
LS pre-shipment survey
- Statutory and mandatory — required for every batch, completed before sea shipment
- Core verification: true product name, quantity, specification, value, HS code — preventing under-declaration
- Survey data and reports sync to the Indonesian government system in real time; no LS report, no clearance
- 2026 change Ministry of Trade Regulation No. 18 of 2026 provides that an LS may still be issued after the import approval expires (provided technical verification was completed within the licence validity and the cargo has arrived) — resolving the old "survey done but licence expired" problem; PI and LS numbers are now cross-validated for consistency
Mandatory SNI certification
SNI is Indonesia's mandatory national standard certification, comparable to China's CCC. For products on the mandatory list, without a certificate and the mark, import, sale and listing on e-commerce platforms are all prohibited.
- 2026 dual-certificate regime: SNI Certificate of Conformity (CoC, valid 5 years) + market circulation permit SPPT (valid 4 years), both subject to annual surveillance audits
- A Chinese factory cannot apply alone — an Indonesian local official representative is mandatory
- That representative must hold a valid tax number (NPWP), business licence and import permit, and must have a physical warehouse — virtual addresses are rejected and blacklisted
- Since 2025, one representative may represent only one foreign manufacturer
- The product trademark needs a local Indonesian R mark, which takes 12–24 months to register — it must be planned early; this is the single most common blocker
- The factory needs ISO 9001 or a quality system audited by the certification body
Main mandatory SNI product categories (as of 2026)
| Category | Typical products |
|---|---|
| Electrical & electronic (strictest) | Air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, rice cookers, kettles, irons, water dispensers, gas stoves, LED lamps, ballasts, plugs and sockets, switches, circuit breakers, cables |
| Audio-visual / IT | TVs up to 55", media players, active speakers, set-top boxes, chargers, power adapters, power banks, lithium batteries |
| Building materials | Cement, rebar, structural steel, steel plate, safety glass, ceramic tiles, PVC / PE / PPR pipes |
| Auto & motorcycle parts | Tyres (including some retreads), safety glass, mirrors, helmets, lead-acid batteries, brake pads, seat belts |
| Children's products | Toys for under-14s (heavy metals / small parts / flammability), baby bottles (BPA migration), strollers, children's bicycles |
| Food & contact materials | Bottled water, instant noodles, biscuits, confectionery, canned goods, instant coffee, sugar, rice, cooking oil; food-grade plastic containers, stainless steel tableware, glazed ceramics, melamine tableware |
| Safety & fire | Safety footwear, protective gloves, fire extinguishers, pressure cookers |
| Others | LPG stoves / regulators / rubber hoses, fertiliser, some pesticides, some sanitary ware |
Over 322 products are currently controlled, and the list changes frequently through Ministry of Industry regulations. Always check the latest list against the HS code before shipping.
⚠️ Penalties for non-compliance (tightened in 2026)
Detention, re-export or destruction of cargo; fines up to IDR 2 billion; 1–3 year import bans; delisting and account suspension on e-commerce platforms.
How to start: a three-step pre-check
For special cargo we do not quote freight first. The correct order is:
- Confirm the HS code and product name — check that code's Lartas (prohibited / restricted) status on Indonesia's National Single Window (INSW), and determine which regulatory category it falls into
- List the mandatory prerequisites — confirm item by item whether the client already holds them; where not, state the lead time and the point at which work must start
- Align timing with the vessel schedule — whether the document lead times fit the desired arrival date; where they do not, propose alternatives
Only after these three steps do we discuss freight and space — quoting before that would be a quote that cannot sail.
Why special cargo depends on "being local"
Special cargo relies on local capability more than general cargo does, for direct reasons:
- Tighter deadlines — the DG terminal storage window is only 24 to 96 hours; overrun means forcible relocation. Remote coordination simply cannot move fast enough.
- Higher inspection probability — special cargo more often goes through the customs inspection channel, requiring someone on site to submit documents, explain classification and follow up release.
- Document issues resolved on the spot — agency counters, terminal desks and carrier offices are all local; only someone on site can get questions answered and paperwork completed the same day.
- Urgent situations need someone to run — cargo held, documents to supplement, inspections to schedule: all need someone local to act immediately.
We have teams operating on the ground at Jakarta (Tanjung Priok) and Semarang (Tanjung Emas): D/O exchange, declaration, inspection, container collection and delivery are all done locally, with direct D/O at 13 carriers. The Semarang branch lets cargo for Central Java and Eastern Indonesia land nearby, without being trucked back from Jakarta — saving time and trucking cost.
Our scope and limits (stated up front)
Indonesian law defines a customs broker as a party that handles customs formalities "for and on the authority of the importer or exporter" (Ministry of Finance Regulation PMK 71/PMK.04/2018, Article 10). In other words, acting for you is not a workaround — it is the statutory function of our trade.
For the various permits involved in special cargo, we therefore provide a complete agency service — on your authority, using your entity's standing and system accounts, we run the whole process from filing to licence:
| Step | Our role |
|---|---|
| Customs declaration (PIB / BC 2.0), D/O exchange | Own licensed PPJK team, direct operation |
| Import approval (PI) agency — filed in INATRADE on your authority | We can handle |
| Pre-shipment survey (LS) agency — liaising with the surveyor, submitting documents on your authority | We can handle |
| SNI certification agency — filing, liaising with the certification body, following the factory audit on your authority | We can handle |
| BPOM registration agency (food ML / cosmetics NA) | We can handle |
| Halal certification agency (BPJPH) | We can handle |
| Port charges advance, trucking and delivery, warehousing and consolidation | Own resources, direct operation |
| Holder eligibility for product registrations (NA / ML in whose name) | Must be held by an Indonesian entity; we advise on structure and connect the parties |
Note: licences and registrations (such as import approval or product notification numbers) are licences in the importer's name and are legally held by the importer entity. Our role is to run the whole process on your authorisation — you provide the entity and standing, we provide the people, expertise and system work. This is also the statutory function of an Indonesian customs broker (PPJK). Indonesian regulations also require a PPJK to employ certified customs specialists (who have passed a professional examination), which is part of our team structure.
We set this out clearly so you know in advance which steps need your Indonesian entity to appear in person, and which we can handle entirely — rather than discovering a missing document at the port.
Not sure whether your cargo can move?
Send us the product name and HS code for a free pre-check — we will tell you which permits are needed, how long they take, and when work must start.
Free special cargo check →Related pages
This page is compiled from current Indonesian regulations, which may be amended; the official requirements at the time of declaration and the carrier's approval decision prevail. For the feasibility, documentary requirements and timing of specific cargo, our written pre-check conclusion for that shipment is authoritative.