COOPERATION ON TRADE-RELATED SUSTAINABILITY REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
Article ARTICLE 15.13
Objectives
With a view to further realizing the benefits stemming from the Parties’ commitments on Trade and Sustainable Development and to maximising the potential of this Agreement to seize the economic opportunities brought by enhanced sustainability, in support of each Party’s domestic growth and development objectives and priorities, the Parties are committed to supporting a stable and predictable trade environment, including by cooperating on the implementation of sustainability regulatory requirements that may affect trade between them (hereinafter "trade-related sustainability regulatory requirements"). They stress that, consistent with WTO law, trade-related sustainability regulatory requirements should be proportionate, non-discriminatory, and implemented in a transparent manner.
The Parties recognise the importance of capacity building, technology cooperation and financial and other resources to facilitate the effective implementation of trade-related sustainability regulatory requirements.
4 This may include: the OECD-FAO Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for responsible supply chains of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas and its supplements, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Meaningful Stakeholders Engagement in the Extractive sectors, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector, the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems” (RAI-Principles) and the “Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security” (VGGT)
Article ARTICLE 15.14
Principles
The Parties will, on entry into force of this Agreement, engage in further discussions and put in place a series of actions and cooperation activities with the aim of supporting an effective implementation of their commitments under this Chapter.
The Parties consider that this Agreement offers a bespoke platform for dialogue and cooperation to pursue sustainable growth, building on their respective strategies, policies, priorities and taking into account their levels of development.
The Parties will collaborate with respect to increased market access opportunities for products obtained sustainably and in accordance with domestic laws, from smallholders, cooperatives, and the local communities. The Parties recognise the role these actors play in achieving sustainable development and stress the importance of respecting collective land rights of local communities, in accordance with each Party’s legislation and relevant international commitments.
Article ARTICLE 15.15
Facilitation of market access
The Parties agree to discuss specific measures and initiatives to attain the goal set out in Article 13 within the framework of the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration. Among others, such measures and initiatives include identification of market access opportunities required to spur exports of products sustainably obtained or produced, and measures and initiatives to expedite and facilitate trade between the Parties, including through:
the exchange of information and cooperation to promote the mutual supportiveness of trade and sustainability objectives, including as appropriate through cooperation on credible, transparent, factual, and non-misleading sustainability assurance schemes, on traceability systems, and on supporting compliance. In this context, the Parties affirm the importance of facilitating producers and exporters, including small and medium enterprises, to participate in and benefit from trade and sustainability efforts under this Agreement;
actions and measures to enhance trade in goods contributing to enhanced social conditions and environmental protection, such as goods and services contributing to a resource-efficient, low-carbon, or circular economy, or goods that are the subject of credible, transparent, factual, and non-misleading sustainability assurance schemes and mechanisms. Such actions may include measures to enhance market access, technical assistance, capacity building and trade facilitation, as appropriate;
i) in order to enhance the potential of trade under this Agreement for sustainable growth and development, the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and
Sustainable Growth and Development configuration will, upon a substantiated proposal by either Party, swiftly start discussions on goods and services from one or both Parties which [significantly] contribute to achieving sustainability objectives in priority economic sectors and areas, notably agriculture, forestry, fishery, renewable energies, as well as environmental services and services incidental to the manufacturing of green goods;
The Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration shall reach agreement on the priority economic sectors and areas, and shall then aim at agreeing on a list of relevant goods and services therein and, as appropriate, identifying additional incentives under this Agreement to promote their trade, namely preferential tariff treatment, preferential services and investment conditions, technical assistance, and capacity building, within 3 years from the entry into force of the Agreement unless finalised earlier or within a timeline otherwise agreed by the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration ; and
The Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration may decide to make a recommendation on the matter to the Trade Committee, which can decide if additional incentives are needed pursuant to sub-paragraph (ii). If the Trade Committee agrees on additional incentives that would require amending this Agreement, the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 2, 8, 24 [Trade in Goods; Services and Investment; Institutional provisions] shall apply.
Measures and initiatives that may be taken pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be reviewed in the meetings of the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration upon a proposal from either Party.
PART C
HORIZONTAL PROVISIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Article ARTICLE 15.16
Scientific and technical information
When establishing or implementing measures aimed at protecting the environment or labour conditions that may affect trade or investment, each Party shall take into account available scientific and technical information, relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations, except if reliance on such international standards, guidelines or recommendations would be impracticable or inappropriate.
The Parties acknowledge that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage to the environment or to occupational safety and health, the lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing precautionary measures to prevent
such damage. Such measures should be proportionate, non-discriminatory, and implemented transparently, in accordance with WTO law.
Article ARTICLE 15.17
Transparency
The Parties recognise the importance of the application of the rules on transparency and good regulatory practices in accordance with Chapters X (Transparency) and X (Good Regulatory Practices), in particular the rules providing reasonable opportunities for any persons to submit views, in accordance with the Parties’ respective rules and procedures, in respect of:
measures including any laws and regulations aimed at protecting the environment and labour conditions that may affect trade or investment; and
trade or investment measures including laws and regulations that may affect the protection of the environment or labour conditions.
Each Party shall give due consideration to communications and opinions from any persons on matters related to this Chapter, including for the definition and implementation of related cooperation activities and may involve such stakeholders further in those activities.
Each Party may share such communications and opinions with its own domestic advisory groups established pursuant to Article 24.7 [Domestic Advisory Groups; Institutional Provisions], and may inform, as it deems appropriate, the other Party via the contact point established pursuant to Article 15.19 [Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration and contact points].
Article ARTICLE 15.18
Review of sustainability impacts
The Parties commit to jointly or individually review, monitor and assess the economic, environmental and social impact of the implementation of this Agreement through their respective policies, practices, participative processes and institutions. The parties will do so also through the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration, in particular through the exchange of
information and experience with regard to methodologies and indicators for trade sustainability impact assessments.
Article ARTICLE 15.19
Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration and contact points
The Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration ("Specialised Committee") is established pursuant to Article 24.4 [Specialised Committees; Institutional Chapter].
The functions of the Specialised Committee shall be to:
facilitate, monitor and review the implementation of this Chapter;
carry out the tasks referred to in Article X.X [Dispute Settlement];
contribute to the work of the Trade Committee on matters covered by this Chapter, including with regard to topics for discussion with the civil society mechanism established pursuant to Article 24.4 and 24.7 [Civil Society Mechanism]; and
consider any other matter related to this Chapter as the Parties may agree.
Each Party shall, within one month after the entry into force of this Agreement, designate a contact point within its administration to facilitate communication and coordination between the Parties on any matter relating to this Chapter. Each Party shall notify the other Party of the contact details of its contact point. A Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any change of those contact details.
Article ARTICLE 15.20
Bilateral regulatory dialogue
The Parties recall the objectives of Chapter 19 [Good Regulatory Practices], of Chapter 20 [Transparency], and of Chapter 21 [Bilateral Dialogue Mechanism] , and reaffirm the importance of enhancing the transparency and predictability of their respective regulatory environments, including with regard to the development and application of measures concerning subject matters covered by this Chapter.
When exchanging information, discussing, and cooperating on their measures concerning subject matters covered by this Chapter under this Agreement, the Parties shall make use of the Dialogue established under Chapter 21 [Bilateral Dialogue Mechanism], subject to the following specifications:
information by the Parties on measures concerning subject matters covered by this Chapter pursuant to Article 21.2 [Bilateral Dialogue Mechanism] may include the provision of information on the request if a Party or on a Party’s own initiative, if it so deems appropriate;
either Party may request to engage in a dialogue on the design, implementation, or application of the relevant measures(s) of the other Party;
when engaging in the Dialogue the Parties shall carry it out with a view to seeking outcomes such as reaching a common understanding of the measure; exchanging relevant information; clarifying potential concerns expressed by the requesting Party; reaching, if possible, a mutually satisfactory outcome, taking into consideration any proposed solutions, in particular those that may support the objectives of this Agreement, including the facilitation of trade, and its implementation; and
unless the Parties agree otherwise, the Dialogue related to measures concerning subject matters covered by this Chapter shall be conducted in the framework of the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration , without prejudice to the competence of other institutional bodies established under this Agreement to also discuss the matter, if the Parties so agree. The Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration may agree to make recommendations as appropriate to the Trade Committee.
Article ARTICLE 15.21
Pre-dispute resolution
In case of disagreement or concern on any matter arising under this Chapter, a Party may request the other Party to discuss the matter in the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration , by delivering a written request to the contact point of the other Party. The contact point of the receiving Party shall inform the Trade Committee of any such request.
Upon receipt of the written request referred to in paragraph 1, the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development
configuration shall promptly enter into good faith discussions. The Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration shall make every attempt to reach a joint understanding and mutually satisfactory outcome on the matter.
The discussions shall be deemed to be concluded within 30 days from receipt of the written request referred to in paragraph 1, unless they are concluded earlier. At any point in time during such discussions, the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration may decide to make a recommendation on the matter to the Trade Committee, pursuant to Art. 24.4.4 [Institutional provisions].
If the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration fails to reach a mutually satisfactory outcome, a Party may have recourse to the procedures under Chapter 22 [Dispute Settlement] for any dispute concerning the interpretation and application of this Chapter within 30 days from the date of conclusion of the discussions in the Specialised Committee on Trade and Sustainable Growth in the Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development configuration .
In the exercise of its functions pursuant to Art. 24.2.1 (d) [Institutional provisions], the Trade Committee may at any point in time seek appropriate ways and methods of preventing problems or resolving disputes that may arise in areas covered under this Chapter.
Disclaimer: In view of the European Commission's transparency policy, the Commission is publishing the texts of its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Indonesia following the Ministerial announcement on 23 September 2025. These texts are published for information purposes only and may undergo further modifications including as a result of the process of legal revision. These texts are without prejudice to the final outcome of the Agreement between the EU and Indonesia. The texts will be final upon signature. The Agreement will become binding on the Parties under international law only after completion by each Party of its internal legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement.
Chapter CHAPTER 16
Article ARTICLE 16.1
Recognising the importance of strengthening policies and defining programmes that contribute to the development of sustainable, inclusive, healthy, equitable and resilient food systems, the objective of this Chapter is to establish cooperation between the Parties to jointly engage in the efforts to establish transition towards respective sustainable food systems.
This Chapter applies without prejudice to the right of respective Parties granted by the provisions of other Chapters of this Agreement related to food systems or to sustainability, in particular Chapter 6 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures), Chapter 7 (Technical Barriers to Trade) and Chapter 15 (Trade and Sustainable Growth and Development).
Article ARTICLE 16.2
This Chapter shall apply to cooperation between the Parties to pursue collaborative efforts in developing and ensuring the sustainability of their respective food systems.
This Chapter includes provisions for cooperation on specific aspects of sustainable food systems.
Article ARTICLE 16.3
For the purposes of this Chapter, noting that the concept and definition of Sustainable Food System (hereinafter referred to as “SFS”) are evolving at national and at international level, the Parties share the understanding that SFS refers to food systems that deliver food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised.
1
Without prejudice to the Parties’ respective laws, regulations and domestic practices, sustainable food systems may include the following important characteristics:
the sustainability of food production;
the sustainability of food processing, distribution and marketing;
the sustainability of food consumption including healthy diets; and
the prevention and reduction of food loss and waste.
Article ARTICLE 16.4
Taking into account their priorities and circumstances the Parties shall endeavour to cooperate with the objective to enhance the sustainability and resilience of their respective food systems, by:
ensuring sustainable food production, by promoting sustainable use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, such as by reducing their use and mitigating their harmful effects in the food chain, when appropriate and according to differences in circumstances and agronomic conditions of the Parties.
minimising the possible environmental and climate impact of food production, to support a transition towards more sustainable food production contributing to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions of food systems, increase carbon sinks and reverse biodiversity loss;
developing contingency plans to ensure the security of the food supply in times of crisis;
promoting sustainable food processing, transport, wholesale, retail and food services;
promoting the uptake of healthy and sustainable diets;
addressing efforts in developing food safety policies; and
preventing and reducing food loss and waste in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 12.3.
Such cooperation may include research and innovation collaborations, exchange of relevant and available information, expertise and experiences in the above fields.
Article ARTICLE 16.5
The Parties agree that in addressing various fields relevant to SFS, collaborative actions are necessary to further facilitate the achievement of objective in Article 16.1 (Objective).
The Parties shall engage in cooperation in the area of SFS, including food safety, the fight against agri-food fraud, antimicrobial resistance and animal welfare.
The Parties shall exchange relevant information about practices and experiences with respect to the areas referred to in paragraph 2.
The cooperation referred to in paragraph 2 may include research and innovation collaborations, that bring in science-based expertise.
Article ARTICLE 16.6
In pursuing the objectives of this Chapter and to monitor the results obtained from its implementation, the Parties shall establish an annual action plan on the fields relevant to SFS referred in this Chapter.
The establishment and monitoring of the action plan referred to in paragraph 1, shall be pursuant to Chapter …, unless the Parties otherwise agree, and will include objective and milestones for each of the actions included in it.
Article ARTICLE 16.7
Specialised Committee on Sustainable Growth, meeting in its Sustainable Food Systems Configuration
This Article complements and further specifies Article 24.4 (Specialised Committees)] of Chapter 24 (Institutional Provisions).
The Committee Sustainable Growth, meeting in its SFS configuration (the “Committee”) shall, with respect to this Chapter, have the following functions:
establishing priorities for cooperation and work plans to implement those priorities; and
promoting cooperation in multilateral fora.
Article ARTICLE 16.8
Taking account of their national priorities and circumstances, the Parties shall cooperate to address matters of joint or common interest related to the implementation of this Chapter.
Such cooperation may take place bilaterally, or in multilateral and international fora.
Article ARTICLE 16.9
The Committee shall establish rules mitigating potential conflicts of interest for the participants in its meetings.
The application of this Chapter shall be without prejudice to the position of either Party on any ongoing work and negotiation in relevant fora.
Any activities under this Chapter shall be the responsibility of the Parties and shall not affect the independence of their respective authorities and agencies
Nothing in this Chapter shall affect the rights and obligations of each Party to protect confidential information, in accordance with each Party's relevant legislation, law and regulation. Each Party shall ensure that procedures are in place to prevent the disclosure of confidential information that is acquired during the process established in this Chapter.
Fully respecting the Parties' right to regulate, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to oblige a Party to:
modify its import requirements;
deviate from domestic procedures for preparing and adopting regulatory measures;
take action that would undermine or impede the timely adoption of regulatory measures to achieve its public policy objectives; or
adopt any particular regulatory outcome.
Article ARTICLE 16.10
Chapter Chapter 22 (Dispute Settlement) Does Not Apply to this Chapter.
Disclaimer: In view of the European Commission's transparency policy, the Commission is publishing the texts of its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Indonesia following the Ministerial announcement on 23 September 2025. These texts are published for information purposes only and may undergo further modifications including as a result of the process of legal revision. These texts are without prejudice to the final outcome of the Agreement between the EU and Indonesia. The texts will be final upon signature. The Agreement will become binding on the Parties under international law only after completion by each Party of its internal legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the Agreement.
ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING
The Parties recognise the importance of economic cooperation under this Agreement and shall promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest, taking into account the different levels of development and capacity of the Parties.
Such cooperation shall foster inclusive sustainable development and contribute to achieving the “2030 Agenda” . The Parties recognise the importance of economic cooperation to support the implementation of this Agreement, with the objective of maximising its benefits for both Parties and deepening their integration in global value chains.
The Parties shall cooperate in areas of mutual interest with the objective of achieving mutual benefits. The Parties shall encourage the involvement of relevant stakeholders in the implementation of economic cooperation and capacity building under this Agreement.
The Parties shall undertake economic cooperation and capacity building activities within the existing institutional and legal framework provided by the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Community and its Member States, on the one part, and the Republic of Indonesia, on the other part, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations. The Parties shall seek, if possible, to minimise duplication of ongoing activities and utilisation of resources, particularly under other trade and economic cooperation programmes.
This Chapter sets out basic principles and operational guidelines for economic cooperation and capacity building under this Agreement.
This Chapter shall apply to all provisions on cooperation included in other Chapters in this Agreement, unless otherwise specified.
Areas and Forms of Cooperation
Economic cooperation and capacity building shall cover activities in areas of mutual interest and be carried out through forms to be agreed upon by the Parties.
The forms of cooperation may include:
technical assistance;
trainings;
exchanges of data and information;
seminars and workshops;
sharing of best practices;
studies;
research and innovation;
awareness raising on trade and investment opportunities; and
other forms of cooperation as may be agreed by the Parties.
Cooperation may focus on the following areas:
trade-related aspects of agriculture; fisheries, marine products and aquaculture; manufacturing;
areas relevant for specific Chapters of this Agreement, including:
[Chapter [2 (Market Access and National Treatment for Goods)];
(ii) [Chapter [3 (Rules of Origin and Origin Procedres)]; (iii)Chapter [4 (Customs and Trade Facilitation)]; (iv)Chapter [6 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures)];;
(v) Chapter [7 (Technical Barriers to Trade)]; (vi)Chapter [8 (Trade in Services and Investment)];