The new year began with the inauguration of the nine elected commissioners of the Indonesian Competition Commission (Komisi Pengawas Persaingan Usaha, KPPU). The newly inaugurated KPPU leadership hit the ground running with various engagements and announced a refined industry focus in their 100 day action plan.
On 2 January 2024, the President of the Republic of Indonesia signed Law No. 1 of 2024 on the Second Amendment to Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (“EIT Law”) (“Amendment Law”). The Amendment Law was enacted and became effective on the same day. The Amendment Law covers some new provisions that seem to push for localization and domestic protection, such as the requirement for e-certification service providers to be domiciled in Indonesia and the requirement for international electronic contracts to be governed by Indonesian Law. The Amendment Law also elaborates on the prohibited acts under the EIT Law, and contains new provisions on government intervention.
The Ministry of Trade has published Regulation No. 31 of 2023 on Provisions on Business Licensing, Advertisement, Development and Supervision of Business Actors in Electronic Systems Trading (“Regulation 31”), which came into force on 26 September and revoked Minister of Trade Regulation No. 50 of 2020 on the same subject matter. This alert highlights that Regulation 31 now identifies social-commerce platforms (i.e., those platforms that feature social media functionalities) within the sphere of e-commerce operators’ business models. Regulation 31 introduces significant new restrictions on the activities of foreign merchants and e-commerce operators.
Law Number 4 of 2023 on the Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector has placed OJK in a more central position to investigate crimes in the financial services sector. As an implementing rule, OJK has issued Regulation Number 16 of 2023 on Investigation of Crimes in the Financial Services Sector which covers, among other things, the general scope of crimes in financial services sector, members of authorized teams of investigators, the investigative authorities and powers, and available alternative settlement mechanics.
On behalf importation, locally known as “under-name importation” or “QQ” importation, has been used by companies for more than a decade, ever since the Directorate General of Customs and Excise first allowed the name of the owner of goods to be included in the import declaration form (PIB). Under Indonesia’s Customs Law, the importer of record is the party that is subject to an audit or a re-examination (Penelitian Ulang), and there is no audit or re-examination of the owner of goods in a PIB using under-name importation. However, in mid-August this year, the Minister of Finance issued Regulation No. 78 of 2023 on Re-examination in the Field of Customs, which will come into force on 21 October this year. One of the objects of re-examination is the owner of goods
On 11 July 2023, Indonesia’s house of representative (known as Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Indonesia/DPR RI) approved the 2023 draft health law. A month later, the President enacted Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health (“Health Omnibus Law”) through the state secretariat. The Health Omnibus Law contains provisions on matters such as pharmaceutical preparations, medical devices, healthcare services, healthcare technology (including telehealth and telemedicine), R&D and other compulsory measures.
On 2 August 2023, the Financial Services Authority or Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) issued its Rule No. 14 of 2023 on Carbon Trading on Carbon Exchange (“OJK Rule 14/2023”). OJK Rule 14/2023 is issued as one of the implementing regulations of Law No. 4/2023 on Development and Strengthening of the Financial Sector.
OJK Rule 14/2023 sets out the standard criteria for carbon units that will be traded on a carbon exchange, as well as the licensing requirements for any company that will apply to become a carbon exchange.
Minister of Transportation Regulation No. 14 of 2023 on Amendment to Minister of Transportation Regulation No. 4 of 2022 on Services for Foreign-flagged Yachts and Cruise Ships, which came into effect on 23 May this year, expands the ports that are available for foreign-flagged cruise ships and yachts to enter and exit Indonesian waters.
To create stability in the macroeconomy and the domestic financial market, the government of Indonesia has issued several regulations in relation to natural resource export proceeds.
On 28 July 2023, speaking at a seminar at KPPU’s head office, the competition authority’s Director of Mergers and Acquisitions indicated that KPPU may consider applying a new method for calculating administrative fines taking into account the sanctioning provisions under the Government Regulation No. 44 of 2021. This would enable KPPU to impose fines of more than the nominal limit of IDR 25 billion set under the Government Regulation No. 57 of 2010, increasing the legal risks for failing to file merger notices on time.