（Dr. Ikrar explored the role of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (FDA) at the national, regional, and international levels. ）
（Dr. Ikrar offered recommendations for the project's long-term advancement.)
(Associate Professor and Vice Dean Zhang Miao provided comments and posed questions regarding the functional positioning of the Indonesian FDA.)
On the afternoon of November 7, 2025, the 85th Session of the Lecture Series on Southeast Asian Affairs and Global Perspective lecture series was held in Room 301-3 of Nan'an Building at Xiamen University. This lecture was delivered by Dr. Taruna Ikrar, Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), on the topic "Public Health and Food Security in Indonesia: Governance Models and Regulatory Innovations."
In his presentation, Dr. Ikrar explored the role of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (FDA) at the national, regional, and international levels. He began by detailing the organizational structure of the Indonesian FDA and contextualized its efforts within the broader push for health resilience in Indonesia. He emphasized the country's initiatives during the pandemic, including the widespread availability and safety assurance of vaccines and medications, as well as cross-sector collaboration. He also highlighted practices aimed at enhancing regulatory efficiency to ensure the accessibility and safety of pharmaceuticals. Dr. Ikrar distilled these experiences into three core principles: multidimensional communication, information coordination, and resilience mechanisms.
Next, Dr. Ikrar systematically discussed regulatory innovations implemented during the pandemic, covering areas such as technical platform reviews, certification processes, vaccine self-sufficiency, laboratory research and development, and the building of public and international trust. Finally, he shared a case study of the Indonesian FDA's regulatory practices in the free nutrition meal program. Through deep collaboration with the National Nutrition Agency, the Indonesian FDA established a comprehensive food safety system, encompassing full supply chain monitoring and professional training for practitioners. Dr. Ikrar also reviewed the development of this project and offered recommendations for its long-term advancement.
The lecture was moderated by Associate Professor Zhang Miao, Vice Dean of the School. The discussants were Professor Wu Chongbo and Assistant Professor Sui Xuemeng from the School. During the discussion session, the three faculty members provided comments and raised questions regarding the Indonesian FDA's functional positioning, regulatory innovations, and international cooperation, to which Dr. Ikrar responded in detail.
