Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — Indonesia is seeking to significantly expand its exports to the United States by strengthening regulatory compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA), as the American market continues to offer substantial opportunities for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
The United States imports approximately USD 216 billion worth of food and beverages annually. However, Indonesia’s food and beverage exports to the U.S. remain limited at around USD 518 million, dominated by dairy products (USD 247 million), beef products (USD 93 million), processed vegetables (USD 30 million), and fresh fruits (USD 24 million). In the cosmetics sector, U.S. imports reach USD 7.79 billion per year, while Indonesian exports account for only USD 4 million. The disparity is even more pronounced in pharmaceuticals, where U.S. imports reached USD 234 billion in 2024, compared to Indonesia’s exports of just USD 726,000. For medical devices, the U.S. imported USD 41.5 billion in 2024, while Indonesian exports stood at USD 79 million in 2023.
To address this gap and unlock the vast potential of the U.S. market, the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. organized a webinar titled “Review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration Regulations to Enhance Market Access for Indonesian Products to the United States” on December 11, 2025. The event attracted around 250 Indonesian business participants from various sectors and aimed to improve understanding of US-FDA regulations as a critical prerequisite for entering and sustaining competitiveness in the U.S. market.
The Director for Export Information Product Development at the Ministry of Trade’s Directorate General of National Export Development highlighted the strong potential and competitiveness of Indonesian products in the U.S. market. He stressed that market penetration must be supported by thorough readiness in meeting international standards and regulatory requirements.
Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo, emphasized that compliance with US-FDA standards and regulations is a fundamental requirement for Indonesian products seeking entry into the U.S. market, particularly in the food and beverage, cosmetics, and health-related sectors.
Trade Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ranitya Kusumadewi, noted that the United States remains a strategic export destination for Indonesia, with more than 90 percent of Indonesian exports to the U.S. falling under US-FDA regulatory and certification requirements. She added that current momentum should be fully leveraged, as U.S. efforts to expand trade partnerships and the positive trend in Indonesia–U.S. trade in 2025 present greater opportunities for Indonesian products to strengthen market penetration through robust regulatory preparedness.
Technical discussions during the webinar were delivered by Agus Setiawan, Regulatory Advisor for USA FDA Compliance at Registrar Corp., who provided in-depth explanations of US-FDA regulations and procedures for food and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. His presentation covered technical requirements related to product safety, labeling, and manufacturing facilities. The session was moderated by the Agricultural Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Danang Budi Santoso, who underscored the importance of accurate regulatory information and the selection of appropriate agents and partners to support successful entry into the U.S. market. (*)
