INDONESIA HALAL CERTIFICATION UPDATE
On October 16, 2026, Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs held a policy socialization session on mandatory halal certification, involving government institutions, the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), business and industry associations, and other stakeholders.
The session addressed adjustments to Indonesia's mandatory halal certification timeline in response to concerns regarding the readiness of businesses and the national halal ecosystem. The government announced that it would amend Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 on the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance to extend the phase-in periods for selected product categories.
The announcement comes just two days before the current phase-in periods for several product categories are due to end on October 18, 2026. The proposed changes affect imported food products, micro and small businesses (MSMEs), cosmetics, health supplements, medicines, and certain consumer goods.
Key Regulatory Changes
The government announced three main adjustments to Indonesia's halal certification framework:
Extension of Mandatory Halal Certification Deadlines
The proposed amendments would revise Articles 160 and 161 of Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024, extending the phase-in periods for selected product categories.
Article 160: Food, Beverages, Related Services, and MSMEs
| Product Category | Existing Timeline Under GR No. 42 of 2024 | Announced Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Services related to food, beverages, and slaughtered products, excluding slaughtering services | Previously scheduled to follow the existing implementation framework | Mandatory halal certification would begin on October 18, 2028 (excluding slaughtering services) |
| Food, beverages, slaughtered products, and slaughtering services supplied by MSMEs | Phase-in period until October 17, 2026 | Extended until October 17, 2028 |
| Imported food, beverages, slaughtered products, and slaughtering services | Mandatory halal certification scheduled by October 17, 2026 | Requirement would begin on October 18, 2028, taking into account the completion of mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) for halal certificates |
Article 161: Medicines, Cosmetics, Consumer Goods, and Other Products
The government also announced an extension for product categories whose existing phase-in periods are scheduled to end in 2026.
| Product Category | Existing Timeline Under GR No. 42 of 2024 | Announced Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional medicines, quasi drugs, and health supplements | Article 161(1)(a) | Extended until October 17, 2028 |
| Cosmetics, chemical products, and genetically engineered products | Article 161(1)(d) | Extended until October 17, 2028 |
| Certain consumer goods, including clothing and accessories | Article 161(1)(e) | Extended until October 17, 2028 |
| Certain household goods, including household health supplies, household appliances, worship equipment, stationery, and office supplies | Article 161(1)(f) | Extended until October 17, 2028 |
| Class A medical devices | Article 161(1)(g) | Extended until October 17, 2028 |
| Over-the-counter and limited over-the-counter medicines | Existing provisions under Article 161 | Existing deadline remains October 17, 2029 |
| Prescription medicines, excluding psychotropic medicines | Existing provisions under Article 161 | Existing deadline remains October 17, 2034 |
These adjustments are intended to provide additional preparation time for businesses while allowing the government to strengthen the supporting halal ecosystem.
Planned Revocation of BPJPH Regulation No. 4 of 2026
The government also announced plans to revoke BPJPH Regulation No. 4 of 2026 on the Assurance of Conformity of Foreign Halal Products Entering the Territory of Indonesia. This regulation established a pre-shipment conformity assurance mechanism for imported products, involving verification of product documentation and physical goods in the country of loading and/or country of origin before shipment to Indonesia. The announced revocation is particularly relevant for overseas manufacturers and Indonesian importers preparing for the new pre-shipment verification mechanism.
Further Regulatory Adjustments Expected
The government announced that Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 would be amended and that the implementing regulations would be adjusted accordingly. The detailed requirements for businesses should therefore be assessed against the final amendment and any subsequent implementing regulations once officially published. Until then, the October 16 announcement provides an indication of the government's intended policy direction, but businesses should distinguish between the announced adjustments and requirements that have already entered into force.
Implications for Overseas Manufacturers and Importers
The most significant development for overseas businesses is the announced extension of the halal certification timeline for imported food, beverages, slaughtered products, and slaughtering services to October 18, 2028.
The government specifically linked this adjustment to the completion of mutual recognition arrangements for halal certificates. Overseas manufacturers and Indonesian importers should therefore continue monitoring developments concerning recognition arrangements between BPJPH and foreign halal certification bodies.
The announced extension for cosmetics, health supplements, traditional medicines, quasi drugs, chemical products, genetically engineered products, and certain consumer goods is also relevant to overseas manufacturers that are still preparing for Indonesia's mandatory halal requirements.
For these businesses, the additional time may provide greater flexibility to address halal certification, documentation, labelling, and coordination with Indonesian business partners.
However, the announcement should not be interpreted as a blanket postponement of all halal obligations. Product-specific requirements and existing deadlines for other categories remain relevant unless formally amended.
