BPJPH Affirms US Products Entering Indonesia Must Hold Halal Certification
The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) has affirmed that the reciprocal cooperation agreement between Indonesia and the United States does not abolish mandatory halal certification and labelling requirements for products entering and circulating in the country. BPJPH stressed that US products must comply with all applicable provisions.
“All products falling under the mandatory halal category that enter, circulate, and are traded in Indonesia, including imported products from the United States and other countries, must still meet halal certification requirements and display halal labels in accordance with regulations,” said BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan in Jakarta on Monday (23/2/2026).
He emphasised that claims suggesting US products may enter Indonesia without halal certification are untrue. Indonesia’s mandatory halal certification continues to be governed by Law Number 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance and its implementing regulations.
Non-halal products are exempt from the halal certification requirement but must display a non-halal declaration in accordance with prevailing legislation.
The reciprocal cooperation mechanism constitutes a form of mutual recognition of halal standards and assurance systems between BPJPH and Foreign Halal Bodies (LHLN) that have undergone rigorous assessment and evaluation processes. This mechanism does not entail the removal of halal obligations but rather a simplification of procedures through the recognition of halal certificates issued by approved foreign halal bodies.
Currently, five foreign halal bodies in the US have established cooperation with BPJPH: the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), the American Halal Foundation (AHF), Islamic Services of America (ISA), Halal Transactions Inc/Halal Transactions of Omaha (HTO), and the Islamic Society of Washington Area through its Halal Certification Department (ISWA).
All five bodies have undergone assessment and evaluation processes in accordance with BPJPH provisions before obtaining mutual recognition of their halal assurance systems.
“Reciprocal cooperation is not the removal of halal obligations. Every product subject to mandatory halal requirements that enters Indonesia must still hold halal certification and display a halal label in accordance with prevailing legislation. The state is present to ensure the protection of Muslim consumers remains safeguarded,” Haikal Hasan continued.
He noted that mutual recognition strengthens global halal governance without diminishing Indonesia’s regulatory sovereignty. BPJPH also ensured that its commitment to consumer protection and the implementation of the Mandatory Halal policy in October 2026 will continue to be carried out consistently, transparently, and accountably, including with respect to imported products.