Indonesia Halal Certification Regulatory Requirements Q&A (Topic Explainer)

Indonesia Halal Certification Regulatory Requirements Q&A — SINOQUAL Topic Explainer

Indonesia is the world's most populous Halal-majority country and has become a key player in the global HALAL industry. The Indonesian government is committed to ensuring the availability of HALAL products on the market to achieve its goal of becoming a global HALAL hub.

As a major initiative, the Indonesian government introduced Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021 on the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance (the "HALAL Certification Regulation"), mandating HALAL certification for various goods and services. Beyond the food and beverage industry, this regulatory framework also includes consumer goods industries such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment, apparel, office supplies, and household appliances, including their ancillary businesses. To comply with this regulation, each product category must obtain HALAL certification within a designated timeframe, ranging from October 2024 to October 2034.

Failure to comply with the HALAL Certification Regulation may subject enterprises to administrative sanctions in the form of written warnings, administrative fines, revocation of HALAL certificates, and withdrawal of goods or services from the market.

Next, SINOQUAL will answer common questions about Indonesian HALAL certification in detail.

Q: What kinds of products can obtain HALAL certification?

Products eligible for HALAL certification in Indonesia include food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biological products, genetically engineered products, consumer goods, slaughterhouses, and related services.

Q: Is an on-site audit mandatory for Indonesian HALAL certification?

A: Yes. Previously, due to special circumstances from the COVID-19 pandemic, audits were not conducted directly on-site. However, at the current stage, all applications for Indonesian HALAL certification require on-site audits.

Q: Do new materials used in trial products need to register for HALAL certification?

A: New materials used in trial products do not need to register for HALAL certification. You only need to ensure the raw materials are free of pork (if using the production facilities of HALAL-certified products) and identify and control the new materials used in trial products according to SJPH standards.

Q: Are non-HALAL products still allowed to enter Indonesia? How do these regulations affect non-HALAL products?

A: Yes, non-HALAL products can still enter Indonesia. Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021 issued by Indonesia outlines exemptions from Indonesian HALAL certification. The regulation explains that if a product is made from ingredients considered HARAM (non-Halal), HALAL certification is not required. Non-HALAL products must display a "non-HALAL" label or description. The non-HALAL description may take the form of a picture, logo, and/or text, included on:

The product's packaging

A certain part of the product

Certain places on the product

In the product ingredients, prohibited ingredients must be printed in a different color. In addition, the non-HALAL description must be easy to read and not easily erased, removed, or damaged. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in administrative sanctions.

Q: How can enterprises comply with HALAL regulations during the transportation of imported goods?

A: After registering and receiving a HALAL certificate, enterprises should add the HALAL logo to shipping containers for transportation purposes, to indicate that the logistics or distribution activities conducted by the enterprise comply with the HALAL Certification Regulation. Enterprises are advised to choose shipping and logistics companies that comply with Indonesian HALAL regulations.

It is worth noting that this requirement may apply to distribution or logistics activities for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic-related products.

Q: Can meat or meat derivatives such as chicken, beef, and lamb apply for an Indonesian HALAL certificate?

A: Yes, meat products and their derivatives must be produced and managed according to SJPH standards.

Q: How long is the Indonesian BPJPH HALAL certificate valid?

A: If the product ingredients, facilities, production processes, and raw and auxiliary material manufacturer information remain unchanged, the BPJPH HALAL certificate will remain valid indefinitely, but you need to conduct an internal audit and Indonesian HALAL Product Assurance standard training every 6 months.

Q: As a trading company, can we apply for an Indonesian HALAL certificate?

A: Trading companies can apply for an Indonesian HALAL certificate, but a factory is required to serve as the manufacturer.