Department of ITP IPB University and PT Sasa Inti Hold Seminar on Fulfilment of Risk Management Programme for Commercial Sterile Food MSEs

The Department of Food Science and Technology (ITP), Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Fateta) IPB University in collaboration with PT Sasa Inti organised a National Seminar entitled 'Fulfilment of Risk Management Programmes in Commercial Sterile Food MSEs'. This national seminar was organised as a hybrid, recently.

No less than 500 participants attended this seminar. Participants came from various circles, ranging from academics, representatives of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), practitioners, researchers and of course business people, both medium and small businesses (MSEs) and large industries.

Prof Feri Kusnandar, Vice Dean of Fateta IPB University for Academic and Student Affairs said, "We really welcome the collaboration between the ITP Department of IPB University and PT Sasa Inti in the context of fostering food MSEs, especially commercial sterile food." Furthermore, he hopes that this activity can contribute to improving the performance of commercial sterile food MSEs in Indonesia.

Also present at the event was the Director of Processed Food Production Supervision – BPOM, Sondang Widya Estikasari, SSi, Apt, MKM. She said that the Risk Management Programme (PMR) is one of BPOM's flagship programmes designed and developed for the processed food industry in ensuring food safety and quality.

"PMR is a national priority that continues to be monitored for progress in achieving its activities. The presence of PMR changes the paradigm of food safety supervision from product-based control to preventive risk-based control," said Sondang Widya Estikasari.

The implementation of PMR in the food industry, including MSEs, is regulated in Government Regulation (PP) No 5 of 2021 on the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing, namely in the health, drug and food sectors. The PP is a technical regulation of Law No. 11/2020 on Job Creation.

It is undeniable that currently the growth trend of MSEs producing high-risk processed food in the form of sterile archipelago culinary food packaged in cans/retort pouch packaging is increasing. Examples of these products include rendang, curry, gudeg and sambal which are packaged in flexible cans/packaging and can withstand room temperature for a long time. Seeing these facts, it is necessary to involve many parties in assisting MSEs in commercial sterile food, especially in the context of PMR implementation.

Agus Sudarmoko, who serves as General Manager (GM) Human Resource and Government Relations of PT Sasa Inti, explained, "This event is part of PT Sasa Inti's corporate social responsibility (CSR). This is one of our thanks to Sasa's customers, especially MSMEs who have become strategic partners of PT Sasa Inti over the years. In the future, we hope that MSMEs can provide quality assurance for the products they produce."

In this seminar, Prof Feri Kusnandar also delivered the material 'Principles and Urgency of PMR for the Safety of Commercial Sterile Food Products'. Also present was the Junior Expert Food and Pharmacy Supervisor, PMR verifier of BPOM, Retno Priyandani, SFarm, Apt who presented the material 'Tips for PMR Compliance in Commercial Sterile Food MSEs'.

After this seminar, there will be a mentoring programme for commercial sterile food MSEs that includes training and assistance in preparing documents on Good Processed Food Production Practices (CPPOB) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). Not only that, the assistance is also related to standard operating procedures for scheduled processes in commercial sterile food production to validation of the adequacy of heat processes for commercial sterile food MSEs in Indonesia.

The mentoring activity will involve a team of experts from the ITP Department of IPB University, PT Sasa Inti team and coordinate with BPOM RI. (*/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)