Jakarta, Sept. 15 -- Indonesia's Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) is working with various sectors and stakeholders to strengthen oversight and prevent the use of prohibited raw materials in food and pharmaceutical products, beginning from the upstream level.

"Our goal is to protect the public, to ensure their safety in terms of food, beverages, and medicines. Most importantly, we aim to protect lives," BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said here on Monday.

At the "Kick-Off of Joint Action on the Prevention and Handling of Hazardous Substance Supply Chains in Pharmaceuticals and Processed Foods," he explained that rapid advances in food and drug production technologies have created both opportunities and threats to health.

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