Indonesia Confirms Extension for Mandatory Halal Certification for Imported Food and Beverage Products and Annulment of Apostille Requirement

ID2024-0039 – As FAS Jakarta previously reported, the Government of Indonesia granted an extension until, “no later than October 17, 2026” for imported food and beverage products to come into compliance with Indonesia’s mandatory halal certification requirements. This allows most U.S. food and beverage products to be exported to Indonesia without halal certification during the length of the extension. The exception is meat, meat products, and dairy products, which remain subject to halal certification requirements under a separate law. Based on conversations with Indonesia’s halal product assurance authority (BPJPH), FAS Jakarta anticipates the extension will likely be granted for the full two years. In addition, the previous requirement to get halal certificates apostilled was removed, saving U.S. exporters an onerous and bureaucratic step. Please note some of the guidance within this report is based on information gathered informally and may be subject to change.

3rd Halal20 International Conference

The conference took place on October 9 -12, 2024 at the ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia.

This event was organized by the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This global halal forum produced important outputs, including the signing of 52 Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) between BPJPH and Foreign Halal Certification Bodies from 24 countries, and also the Communiqué on Strengthening the Global Halal Ecosystem from all delegates present.

Indonesia Accredits Five US Halal Certifying Bodies

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On March 1, the Government of Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) listed five U.S. halal certifying bodies (HCBs) on its website as fully accredited to issue halal certificates for U.S. products destined for the Indonesian market. The accreditation of these five HCBs is vital to providing U.S. suppliers with as many halal certification service providers as possible before enforcement of Indonesia’s mandatory halal certification law for most food and beverage products begins on October 17, 2024. U.S. producers seeking to send halal-eligible products to Indonesia should apply for halal certification either directly with the Indonesian government or through an accredited U.S. HCB. Mandatory halal certification does not apply to non-eligible products (i.e., haram/forbidden products such as those containing pork, alcohol, and other forbidden ingredients).

BPJPH Mandates Registration of Foreign Halal Certificates for Imports

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Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) recently promulgated a new decree requiring imported products’ halal certificates issued by foreign halal certifying bodies be registered with BPJPH prior to the importation and distribution of the products within Indonesia. This report describes the registration process.

Indonesia Halal 20 Forum

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The Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) held the Halal 20 (H20) Forum in Semarang, Indonesia in November 2022. The forum covered a wide range of halal related issues and representatives from foreign embassies and 99 foreign halal certifying agencies (HCAs) joined in the discussions. This report summarizes some of the key points of the event.

GOI Issues New Implementing Regulation on Halal Product Assurance

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President Joko Widodo has signed Government Regulation No. 31/2019 regarding provisions for implementing Indonesia’s 2014 Halal Product Assurance Law.  This regulation is the first of several expected implementing regulations related to the 2014 law.  Key provisions include the role of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) in coordinating and cooperating with Government of Indonesia (GOI) Ministries, Agencies and, the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), the accreditation process for domestic and international halal certifiers and guidelines for the Halal Product Process.

GOI Issues New Implementing Regulation on Halal Product Assurance

ID2019-2451
President Joko Widodo has signed Government Regulation No. 31/2019 regarding provisions for implementing Indonesia’s 2014 Halal Product Assurance Law.  This regulation is the first of several expected implementing regulations related to the 2014 law.  Key provisions include the role of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) in coordinating and cooperating with Government of Indonesia (GOI) Ministries, Agencies and, the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), the accreditation process for domestic and international halal certifiers and guidelines for the Halal Product Process.