Market
Licorice root powder (Glycyrrhiza spp.) in Indonesia is mainly a downstream ingredient market supplying manufacturers of Obat Bahan Alam (Jamu, OHT, Fitofarmaka) and related health products regulated by BPOM. The product is typically import-oriented because licorice (a temperate-zone medicinal plant) is not evidenced as a significant Indonesian crop in the sources reviewed for this record. Import entry is exposed to plant-quarantine controls, including the requirement to present a health/phytosanitary certificate and to enter via designated entry points under Indonesia’s quarantine regime. For medicinal positioning (OBA), BPOM registration and quality/safety requirements can apply depending on how the ingredient is marketed and used.
Market RoleImport-oriented downstream ingredient market (domestic production not evidenced in sources reviewed)
Domestic RoleIndustrial ingredient input for BPOM-regulated Obat Bahan Alam and for food/supplement formulation
SeasonalityAvailability is primarily driven by import procurement schedules rather than domestic harvest seasonality.
Risks
Plant Quarantine HighImport entry can be blocked or severely delayed if quarantine requirements are not met (e.g., missing/incorrect health or phytosanitary certificate, entering through a non-designated entry point, or document mismatch). This can result in holds, re-export, or other quarantine actions before the product can enter Indonesian distribution channels.Pre-align HS classification and quarantine pathway; ship only through designated entry points; run a pre-shipment document reconciliation (certificate, labels, lot numbers, weights) and maintain an importer-side checklist approved by quarantine/customs brokers.
Regulatory Compliance MediumRegulatory pathway ambiguity (food ingredient vs Obat Bahan Alam raw material vs supplement inputs) can trigger BPOM-facing compliance gaps, including labeling/claims restrictions and differing quality documentation expectations.Define the intended end use and marketing status in Indonesia before shipment; align specifications and documentation to the correct BPOM pathway (including OBA registration/quality rules where applicable).
Food Safety MediumNon-conformance on quality/safety parameters (identity, contaminants such as heavy metals/microbial contamination/aflatoxins where risk-based) can cause rejection, recall, or downstream brand/regulatory exposure, especially when used in regulated health products.Require third-party lab testing per lot (identity + marker assay + contaminant panel) and retain samples; ensure storage/packaging controls to prevent moisture uptake in Indonesia.
Market Surveillance MediumIndonesia’s herbal/traditional medicine market has ongoing enforcement attention for illegal products adulterated with pharmaceutical substances; if licorice powder is used in downstream products, poor supplier control and documentation can amplify reputational and regulatory risk even when the ingredient itself is compliant.Strengthen supplier qualification and downstream customer onboarding; implement robust incoming QC, traceability, and documentation retention to support BPOM inquiries and customer audits.
Sustainability LowSourcing from wild-harvest licorice can carry sustainability concerns (resource depletion and habitat impact) that increasingly influence buyer requirements for medicinal botanicals.Prioritize cultivated or verified sustainable wild-collection sources; request evidence aligned to WHO GACP and/or FairWild where applicable.
Sustainability- Wild-resource depletion risk: literature on licorice production notes historical over-excavation/overharvesting pressures on wild licorice resources in major producing regions; buyers may require evidence of cultivated or sustainably managed collection sources.
- Biodiversity and habitat impacts from uncontrolled wild collection; consider sustainability standards (e.g., WHO GACP; FairWild for wild-collected botanicals) when sourcing for Indonesia-bound supply chains.
Labor & Social- Wild-collection supply chains can involve informal collectors and weak labor protections; buyers may require supplier due diligence aligned to recognized responsible business conduct frameworks (e.g., OECD due diligence guidance) and/or wild-collection standards (e.g., FairWild).
Standards- Supplier HACCP/ISO 22000 (or equivalent food-safety management) for ingredient handling and storage controls
- GMP expectations where the ingredient is supplied into regulated medicinal/traditional medicine manufacturing (e.g., CPOTB for downstream OBA manufacturing contexts)
FAQ
Which HS heading is commonly used for licorice root powder trade classification?Licorice roots are listed under HS 1211.10 (“Liquorice roots”) in the Harmonized System, and the heading text covers forms that are cut, crushed, or powdered. Import declarations in Indonesia typically align to this HS structure, with the final tariff line depending on Indonesia’s tariff schedule.
What is the most common deal-breaker compliance risk when importing licorice root powder into Indonesia?The most disruptive risk is failing plant-quarantine entry requirements—especially missing or incorrect health/phytosanitary documentation and not using designated entry points—because this can trigger quarantine holds or refusal before the shipment can clear into Indonesian distribution.
If licorice root powder is used in Indonesian herbal/traditional medicine products, what BPOM concepts matter most?BPOM distinguishes Obat Bahan Alam categories such as Jamu, OHT, and Fitofarmaka, and has regulations covering registration and quality/safety requirements for Obat Bahan Alam, including imported products. The exact documentation and testing expectations depend on how the ingredient is positioned and used in the finished product.