Indonesia issued Decision 47/2025 on certain prohibited import items.

The Indonesian Ministry of Trade has just issued Decision No. 47/2025 on certain prohibited imports, effective from January 1, 2026, replacing and consolidating existing import management regulations (Decision 18/2021, Decision 40/2022) and amending some provisions of Decision 21/2025.

Bộ Công thương•16/01/2026

According to Decision 47/2025, Indonesia prohibits the import of 12 categories of goods, including: certain sugar products; certain types of rice according to technical criteria; ozone-depleting substances; used packaging, sacks and clothing; goods and equipment using cooling/fire extinguishing systems; electronic equipment using cooling systems; certain raw materials used in pharmaceuticals and food; hazardous and toxic materials; registered waste; finished hand tools; and medical equipment containing mercury. The list is updated in detail according to the HS code system 2022/2025.

It is noteworthy that Decision 47/2025 absolutely prohibits the import of goods on the prohibited list into Free Trade Zones and Free Ports (FFZs), Special Economic Zones (SEZs), bonded warehouses, and export processing zones, regardless of their intended use, including as raw materials for the production of export goods. Under previous regulations, some goods were still permitted to be imported into these areas through a licensing mechanism.

Furthermore, tax and customs incentives in free zones and special economic zones no longer apply to goods prohibited from import. Exemptions are applied very limitedly, mainly for the re-import of goods already exported or shipments transported before the effective date of the Decision, as evidenced by the date on the bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB) and arriving at the destination port no later than January 31, 2026.

Decision 47/2025 is not an entirely new regulation, but rather a compilation of previous decisions with some adjustments. For certain product groups such as metal scrap, chemicals; electrical and electronic goods and equipment using outdated technology or coolants containing HCFC-123 and HCFC-22 (which are on the prohibited list); and some medical equipment and environmentally sensitive industrial products, businesses need to pay special attention because the management policy has shifted from a licensing mechanism to a ban on imports.

Vietnamese businesses need to proactively review product catalogs, technical standards, environmental factors, and HS codes, while promptly updating themselves on new Indonesian regulations to adjust export plans, minimize legal risks, and avoid trade disruptions.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/indonesia-ban-hanh-quyet-dinh-47-2025-ve-mot-so-mat-hang-cam-nhap-khau.html