Jakarta \u2014 The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), through its Food, Drug\nand Cosmetics Assessment Institute (LPPOM), has urged the Indonesian\nGovernment to apply equal treatment regarding halal product\ncertification.<\/p>\n
MUI\u2019s statement was issued in response to the trade agreement between\nthe Indonesian and United States governments, specifically concerning\nhalal certification requirements for US products entering Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage the government to provide equal treatment and\ndemonstrate its support for local producers,\u201d said LPPOM MUI Chief\nExecutive Muti Arintawati in Jakarta on Monday, 23 February 2026.<\/p>\n
Muti explained that halal regulations under Government Regulation\n(PP) Number 42 of 2024 explicitly require cosmetics, medical devices,\nand related services (such as distribution services) to hold halal\ncertificates, whilst non-halal products must include a non-halal\nlabel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that LPPOM received,\nspecifically Article 2.9, shows potential inconsistencies with the halal\nregulations that have been in effect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Muti further explained that the MoU exempts cosmetics, medical\ndevices, and their distribution services from mandatory halal\ncertification, and that non-halal products would not be required to\ndisplay non-halal labelling on their packaging.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese exemptions are also found in Article 2.22, such as provisions\nexempting non-animal food products from halal certification requirements\nand removing the obligation for halal supervisors to be present at\ncompanies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Muti assessed that this situation automatically creates an imbalance\nin competition, whereby local producers and foreign producers from\ncountries other than the US face obligations that American producers do\nnot. Other countries could also demand the same treatment, and there is\npotential for the unequal treatment to be challenged at the WTO on\ngrounds of discrimination.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe encourage the government to provide equal treatment, demonstrate\nits support for local producers, and not submit to foreign pressure\nregarding halal matters,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Previously, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya sought to correct\nreports claiming that US products could enter Indonesia without halal\ncertification. Teddy stated that the reports were untrue and\nmisleading.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is not true,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He affirmed that all products required to hold halal certification\nmust continue to display official halal labels, whether issued by halal\nbodies in the US or by Indonesian authorities.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/controversy-over-halal-certification-in-indonesia-us-trade-agreement-mui-demands-equal-treatment-1771845957", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }