The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) under Jakarta's Ministry of Religious Affairs officially implemented mandatory Halal certification starting Friday, October 18. Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 on implementing Halal product assurance applies to all food within Indonesia, and by 2026 imported food will become mandatory.

BPJPH head Muhammad Aqil Irham said the government provided enterprises a five-year adaptation period from October 17, 2019 to October 17, 2024 to prepare for the Halal certification process.

Aqil explained that the regulation initially applies to three categories of products produced by large and medium-sized enterprises: food and beverages, food raw materials and additives, and slaughter products and services.

He stressed that enterprises in these categories must obtain Halal certification by October 18. If their products are uncertified and continue to be placed on the market, sanctions will be imposed, including written warnings or product withdrawal. However, this requirement does not apply to non-Halal products, such as those containing pork or alcohol.

Aqil noted that small enterprises producing the same category of products must obtain Halal certification by October 17, 2026. BPJPH urges small businesses to apply for Halal certification as soon as possible.

For imported goods, the Minister of Religious Affairs will determine the Halal certification requirements before October 17, 2026. The ministry is currently discussing the requirement with other countries.

To support the implementation of this task, BPJPH has begun nationwide Halal Product Assurance (JPH) supervision starting October 18 to ensure that large and medium-sized enterprises obtain the required Halal certification.

"Besides this supervision, we continue to educate enterprises to adapt to consumers' growing awareness of Halal products. Halal certification should not be seen merely as an administrative burden, but as added value that improves product quality, competitiveness and market coverage," Aqil explained.

"Today, Halal products are driven by domestic and global consumption trends. We should ensure that our people do not consume Halal products from abroad," he concluded.

FAQ

When will imported food in Indonesia require Halal certification?
The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) under Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs officially implemented mandatory Halal certification starting October 18 (under Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024), applying to all food within Indonesia, while imported food will become mandatory in 2026. The Minister of Religious Affairs will determine the Halal certification requirements for imported goods before October 17, 2026, and the ministry is currently discussing the requirement with other countries.
What are Indonesia's mandatory Halal certification deadlines for large/medium-sized and small enterprises?
The government provided enterprises a five-year adaptation period from October 17, 2019 to October 17, 2024. The regulation initially applies to three categories of products produced by large and medium-sized enterprises (food and beverages, food raw materials and additives, slaughter products and services), which had to obtain certification by October 18 or face sanctions such as written warnings or product withdrawal (non-Halal products such as those containing pork or alcohol are exempt). Small enterprises producing the same categories must obtain Halal certification by October 17, 2026.