BPOM Responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on FDA's New Import Certification Requirement for Indonesian Spices
On November 28, the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Authority (BPOM) provided written responses to frequently asked questions regarding the scope and implementation of new import certification requirements for spices from certain regions of Indonesia based on the potential risk of contamination with Cesium-137 (Cs-137).
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Related Resources
FDA One-Pager on Import Certification
The FDA is implementing import certification requirements under Section 801(q) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (added by FSMA Section 303) for certain foods from certain regions of Indonesia due to Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination risks. This was based on information available, including detection of elevated levels of Cs-137 in several shipments, including shrimp and cloves, FDA sample analysis, and known sources of contamination in the region. This one-pager provides what you need to know for shipping products subject to Import Alert (IA) 99-52.
Reciprocal Tariff Exemptions for Spices: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
On November 14, the White House issued an Executive Order exempting certain agricultural commodities, including many spices, from all reciprocal tariffs globally. The exemption is effective as of November 13. ASTA has received questions from members about these exemptions. We have compiled a list of questions and answers for members. This document was updated on November 20, 2025 to reflect new exemptions for tariffs on spices from Brazil.
