From October 18, 2026, Indonesia will enforce the next major phase of its mandatory halal certification regime, covering imported and domestically produced food and beverages, cosmetics, natural medicines, health supplements, chemical and genetically engineered products, certain consumer goods, and Class A medical devices. Products made from non-halal materials may continue to be sold but must carry the required non-halal information. For global brands, the countdown to compliance has entered its final weeks.
Indonesia’s halal certification framework traces back to 2014, when the Halal Product Assurance Law (Law No. 33/2014) transferred certification authority from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to a new state agency, BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal). For three decades prior, halal certification had been a voluntary system managed exclusively by LPPOM MUI. The 2014 law made it mandatory, but gave businesses a phased compliance window stretching over a decade.
The rollout has operated in distinct phases. Phase 1, covering food, beverages, and slaughter products for medium and large enterprises, became enforceable on October 17, 2024. Phase 2 targets cosmetics, personal care products, chemicals, traditional medicines, health supplements, consumer goods, and Class A medical devices — all due by October 17, 2026. Phase 3 extends to over-the-counter medicines and Class B medical devices by 2029, with prescription drugs following in 2034.
Under Presidential Regulation No. 153 of 2024, BPJPH was established as a non-ministerial government agency responsible for administering Indonesia’s halal product assurance system, strengthening its institutional role in the country’s halal regulatory framework.
The October 2026 phase expands mandatory halal certification to micro and small enterprises and foreign or imported products, while also broadening the categories covered. From October 18, 2026, the requirements extend to food and beverages, slaughter products and services, cosmetics, chemical and genetically engineered products, natural medicines, quasi-drugs, health supplements, certain raw materials and food additives, consumer goods, and Class A medical devices.
Indonesia’s 280 million consumers, 87 percent of whom are Muslim represent the world’s largest Muslim-majority market. As of early 2025, only about 28.8 percent of food and beverage enterprises held a valid halal certificate, and up to 25 percent of supermarket products remained non-compliant, according to industry data cited by Halal Expo.
Indonesia operates a three-body regulatory system. BPJPH receives applications and issues certificates. Accredited Halal Inspection Bodies (LPH) conduct facility audits and laboratory testing. MUI provides the religious fatwa required before any certificate can be issued. All applications flow through SIHALAL, BPJPH’s centralized digital portal.
Foreign companies face a critical constraint: they cannot apply directly. Exporters must appoint a licensed Indonesian importer or authorized local representative to manage the SIHALAL account. Two primary compliance pathways exist. The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) route allows companies whose halal certification body has a bilateral agreement with BPJPH to register their existing foreign certificate , a process taking approximately 20 to 43 working days. Indonesia has signed MRAs with over 90 foreign halal certification bodies across 32 countries. The standard route, required when no MRA exists, involves a full on-site audit by an Indonesian-accredited LPH and MUI fatwa review, taking 3 to 6 months.
Costs vary by company size. Micro and small enterprises can certify for approximately $40, while large and foreign companies face fees starting at $1,550. The MRA registration path costs roughly $50.
In a significant expansion, BPJPH has mandated that the logistics sector must also meet halal certification requirements by October 2026. BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan stated that halal certainty extends beyond the final product to encompass storage, packaging, and distribution processes. “Halal and non-halal products, such as meat, must be stored separately. This is a mandatory standard that all logistics providers must fulfill,” he said, according to Indonesia’s state news agency Antara. The Halal Product Process (PPH) framework evaluates the entire supply chain from raw material sourcing through warehouse segregation, transport protocols, and retail shelf placement.
Indonesia’s government has allocated 60 to 70 percent of BPJPH’s budget to free certification for micro and small enterprises through the SEHATI program, which issues one million free certificates annually with a target of 1.35 million by 2026. Fuad Nasar, director for halal product assurance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, described the policy as “not merely an administrative obligation, but a shared interest in moving the halal industry as a driver of national economic growth.” The ministry has deployed marriage registrars across the country to assist MSMEs as halal product process assistants.
The enforcement framework under GR 42/2024 establishes escalating penalties: written warnings, administrative fines, halal certificate revocation, and mandatory product withdrawal from all market channels. Customs authorities can refuse entry of non-compliant products. E-commerce platforms including Tokopedia, Shopee, and Laz increasingly require halal certificate numbers for applicable product categories. BPJPH began active supervision of food and beverage compliance in October 2024, issuing market withdrawal orders a track record that suggests the 2026 deadline will be similarly enforced.
Indonesia’s mandate is part of a broader global shift toward mandatory halal regulation. Singapore’s MUIS introduced enhanced digital certificates with QR verification in October 2025. India’s FSSAI created a legally enforceable framework for halal certification, restricting domestic certification to government-notified authorities. The Gulf Cooperation Council continues harmonizing standards under GSO 2055, with increased focus on AI-driven traceability. Malaysia established a new Malaysian Halal Commission to reduce bottlenecks, while JAKIM retains its guardianship of halal standards. The global halal economy is projected to reach $3.4 trillion by the end of 2026.
With only weeks remaining before enforcement begins, exporters should confirm their certification or foreign-certificate recognition pathway immediately. Companies that have not yet completed the necessary process face an increasing risk of certification delays and market-access disruption after October 18, 2026. BPJPH has continued urging businesses to complete certification before the deadline as it prepares for the next phase of mandatory halal enforcement.
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