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I never thought I’d be digging into pharmaceutical regulations.
I run a small supermarket in Bandung — nothing fancy. Just basic groceries, snacks, hygiene products. But last month, I started seeing more customers asking for over-the-counter medicines: painkillers, cold syrup, even vitamins with “foreign labels.”

I thought: maybe I can add a small pharmacy corner.
Simple, right?

Turns out, it’s not.

I had no idea how deep this rabbit hole goes.

I started asking around. A local pharmacist told me, “If you’re not registered with BPOM, don’t even try.” BPOM — Badan POM, or the National Agency of Drug and Food Control. That’s the first thing I learned.

I went to the official BPOM website. The interface was in Bahasa Indonesia. I used Google Translate. Half the terms made no sense. “Sertifikat Edar” — I thought it meant “distribution license.” But then another shop owner said, “No, that’s just the first step. You also need the Surat Izin Usaha Perdagangan (SIUP) and Tanda Daftar Perusahaan (TDP).”

I didn’t even know those existed for medicine sales.

I spent three days just trying to map the path.

The Variables I Didn’t See Coming

Here’s what I didn’t expect:

  1. Not all medicines are equal.
    A bottle of paracetamol from Thailand? Different rules than a vitamin C tablet from China. Some are classified as “bebas terbatas” (limited free sale), others need a prescription even if they’re sold over the counter. I didn’t know this until I got a warning from a BPOM inspector who came to check a neighboring store.

  2. Location matters — even within Bandung.
    One district office told me I could apply for a “retail pharmacy permit” if my shop was over 20 sqm. Another said, “No, you need to be in a commercial zone, not a residential street.” I was confused. Why would two government offices in the same city give conflicting info?

  3. Documentation is a moving target.
    I printed out the list of required documents from the BPOM portal. Two weeks later, when I went to submit, they asked for a new form — Form 003-BPOM, version 2026. The old one (2024) was no longer accepted. I didn’t get any email. No announcement. Just a clerk saying, “It’s on the website.”

That’s the worst part — information asymmetry.
You think you’re following the rules. But the rules change, and nobody tells you.

I lost two weeks.

My Framework: How I’m Thinking About This Now

I’m not a lawyer. I don’t have a compliance team. I’m just a guy trying to keep his store alive.

So I built a simple framework:

1. Start with BPOM — but don’t trust the website alone.
Go to the local BPOM office in Bandung (Jalan Cihampelas, near Cihampelas Walk). Ask for the Pelayanan Terpadu (Integrated Service) counter. Bring your KTP, SIUP, TDP. Ask: “What is the current form for retail OTC medicine distribution?” Take notes. Record the name of the officer.

2. Talk to people who’ve done it — not just friends.
I found a guy on Facebook group “Usaha Kecil Bandung” who imported herbal supplements. He said, “I used a local agent. Paid Rp 8 juta. Took 45 days. Didn’t get rejected.” I asked him: “What if they say no?” He shrugged: “Then you wait. Or you change the product.”

That’s the truth. No guarantee.

3. Time is your biggest cost.
I spent 12 hours just filling forms. I could’ve used that time restocking soap or negotiating with suppliers. But I thought: “If I don’t try now, I’ll never know.”

I’m not going to rush. But I’m not giving up either.

What I’d Do Again — and What I’d Avoid

✅ Do:

  • Visit BPOM Bandung in person.
  • Ask for a list of approved suppliers for OTC products.
  • Keep copies of every document, stamped or not.

❌ Avoid:

  • Buying medicines from unofficial distributors.
  • Assuming “Made in China” = automatically allowed.
  • Waiting for an email update.

FAQ

Q1: What are the basic steps to legally sell over-the-counter medicines in Bandung?

  • Step 1: Register your business with Dinas Perdagangan (Trade Office) for SIUP and TDP.
  • Step 2: Submit application to BPOM Bandung with Form 003-BPOM (2026 version), product list, and supplier certificates.
  • Step 3: Await inspection — may take 15–45 days.
  • Step 4: If approved, receive Sertifikat Edar and display it visibly in-store.
  • Key point: Only products listed in BPOM’s public database can be sold. Check here: https://pom.go.id

Q2: Can I import medicines from China or Thailand without a local agent?

  • You can, but you must prove the product is registered in its country of origin and meets BPOM’s safety standards.
  • Many Chinese OTC products are not recognized by BPOM — even if they have “FDA” or “CE” labels.
  • Path: Use BPOM’s Pencarian Produk tool to verify each product code before importing.

Q3: What if I get caught selling without approval?

  • Penalties vary. In Bandung, I’ve heard of fines (Rp 5–10 juta), product seizure, or temporary closure.
  • No jail time for small retailers — but your reputation is at risk.
  • Best move: Stop immediately, contact BPOM, and ask how to apply retroactively.

I used to think compliance was for big companies.
Now I know: if you’re selling anything that touches health, even a bottle of painkiller, you’re already in the system.

I still don’t have the permit.
But I know the questions to ask.

And that’s better than pretending I know the answers.

If you’re in the same boat — maybe you’re trying to add vitamins, maybe you’re thinking about importing herbal remedies — I’d love to hear how you’re handling it.

前几天我和编辑 JingJing 聊起这件事。她没给我答案，但她说：“你不是一个人在问。很多人在同样地摸索。”

If you want to share your own experience — or just need someone to listen — you can reach out to JingJing on WeChat: lvga2015.

No promises. No services. Just real talk from one small business owner to another.

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