BPJPH Chief Affirms US Products Circulating in Indonesia Must Hold Halal Certification
Jakarta, VIVA – The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) has affirmed that products originating from the United States entering and circulating in Indonesia must hold halal certification in accordance with existing regulations.
BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan stated that the halal certification obligation in Indonesia continues to refer to the mandate of Law Number 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance and its derivative regulations.
“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 comply with halal certification requirements in accordance with regulations, whether certified halal in their country of origin or in Indonesia,” Haikal said in a statement on Monday, 23 February 2025.
He stressed that the reciprocal cooperation agreement between Indonesia and the US does not abolish the halal certification and labelling obligations for products entering and circulating within Indonesian territory.
“Reciprocal cooperation does not mean the elimination of halal obligations. Every product subject to mandatory halal requirements entering Indonesia must still hold halal certification and display a halal label in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations,” Haikal said.
“The state is present to ensure protection for the public and consumers whilst simultaneously enhancing product competitiveness,” he added.
As for non-halal products, he continued, these are exempted from the halal certification obligation. Such non-halal products are required to display a non-halal declaration in accordance with regulations.
Furthermore, Haikal added that mutual recognition actually strengthens global halal governance without diminishing Indonesia’s regulatory sovereignty.
The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) mechanism constitutes a form of halal standard recognition between BPJPH and Foreign Halal Bodies (LHLN) that have undergone a rigorous assessment process. This mechanism does not signify the elimination of halal obligations, but rather a simplification of procedures through the recognition of halal certificates issued by BPJPH-recognised foreign halal bodies.
Currently, five foreign halal bodies in the United States have established halal standard recognition cooperation with BPJPH, namely 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).