BPJPH: Mandatory Halal Certification Covers Imported Products Circulating in Indonesia

Jakarta - The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) has affirmed that the mandatory halal certification (Wajib Halal) in 2026 will not only apply to domestic products but also to imported products circulating in Indonesia, in accordance with statutory provisions. “The implementation of mandatory halal certification targets not only domestic products but also foreign products entering Indonesia,” said BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan in a statement on Friday. Haikal stated that strengthening the policy on imported products is considered a crucial aspect to ensure the implementation of Wajib Halal in October 2026 runs effectively, measurably, and provides legal certainty for business operators and the public. He further explained that BPJPH continues to intensify coordination with relevant agencies ahead of the implementation of the mandatory halal certification, which will officially take effect on 18 October. Several ministries and agencies that have held coordination meetings with BPJPH regarding this policy include the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Trade, the National Food Agency, and BPI Danantara. Haikal noted that the involvement of these various ministries and agencies is a vital part of strengthening cross-sector synergy to ensure readiness for implementing the mandatory halal policy, particularly concerning imported products. According to him, the implementation of Wajib Halal in October 2026 must be prepared meticulously through robust inter-agency synergy, especially in aspects of supervision, recognition of foreign halal certificates, regulatory harmonisation, and strengthening the governance of Halal Product Assurance services. He assessed that Indonesia has a significant opportunity to reinforce national economic self-reliance by strengthening strategic sectors, including the halal industry and its ecosystem. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening the national halal ecosystem given the substantial contribution of the halal sector to national economic growth. “Therefore, the implementation of Wajib Halal in October 2026 must become a momentum to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian halal products while strengthening consumer protection,” he said.