BPJPH prepares rules to ease businesses into mandatory halal certification

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The government is drafting rules for certain circumstances, particularly those involving micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and products such as raw materials and consumer goods, ahead of the implementation of mandatory halal certification on 18 October 2026.

“Mandatory halal certification will still be implemented from 18 October 2026. There will be no postponement. However, the government is drafting special provisions for certain circumstances, particularly for MSE products and imported products,” BPJPH head Haikal Hasan said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

Haikal said the regulations were being prepared to ensure that mandatory halal certification is implemented in an orderly manner, safeguard business continuity and remain consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

He said that implementing mandatory halal certification and providing certainty about the halal status of foreign products did not constitute a ban, restriction or coercion against businesses.

The government would therefore ensure that the requirement was implemented in an orderly and measured way, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, through guidance and supervision.

“There is no policy of conducting raids or similar actions against businesses in the field,” Haikal said.

Haikal also urged businesses and the public to be alert to various scams using BPJPH’s name, particularly those taking advantage of the mandatory halal certification rollout.

Such schemes may involve communications falsely claiming to come from BPJPH and asking businesses to pay money under the pretext of fines, penalties or settling halal certification obligations.

“The Ministry of Religious Affairs has an important role in educating the public about mandatory halal certification this October,” said M. Fuad Nasar, director of halal product assurance at the ministry.

Fuad said education and outreach were being carried out through collaboration across directorates, involving religious marriage officials, religious counsellors, mosques and the ministry’s network from national to sub-district level.

With collaboration and the involvement of agencies in line with their respective duties and authorities, the transition to mandatory halal certification in October would proceed more smoothly.