As many as 150 urban village apparatuses and 20 regional working unit representatives in Jakarta Provincial Government, Monday (9/15), attended the socialization of Natural Medicines (OBA) containing Chemical Medicines (BKO).

The activity was initiated by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BBPOM) in Jakarta.

Head of BBPOM in Jakarta, Sofiyani Chandrawati Anwar, explained this activity is an effort to monitor the circulation of OBA or what is better known as herbal medicine in the community.

Sofi admitted that her side has struggled to monitor herbal medicine depots. It is because the herbal medicine businesses frequently change locations and typically operating at night. This making oversight difficult.

Based on monitoring results throughout 2024, her side only managed to reach 34 herbal medicine depot businesses. All of them were found to be in violation, such as selling herbal medicine that had been recalled or was on the public warning list.

"In addition to distribution permits and types of herbal medicine that may be sold without a brand, participants were also educated regarding the characteristics of herbal medicine exposed to BKO," she explained.

Sofi added that she would provide assistance and guidance to herbal medicine business operators who were found selling products that did not meet the regulations.

"We invite all elements of government and society to jointly monitor the sale of natural medicines or traditional medicines at herbal medicine depots to ensure they comply with the regulations," she invited.