BPJPH: United States commits to complying with Indonesia's halal requirements

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Indonesia’s Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) has affirmed that the United States is committed to complying with Indonesia’s halal product requirements.

“The United States Government, through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has previously stated its commitment to comply with mandatory halal requirements in force in Indonesia,” said BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Haikal emphasised that halal certification in Indonesia applies to all products circulating in Indonesian territory, including imports from the United States and other countries.

He noted that products need not undergo halal certification in Indonesia if they already hold a halal certificate from a Foreign Halal Body (LHLN) recognised by BPJPH.

“Thus (the product) does not need recertification in Indonesia. It merely requires registration so that its halal certificate can be officially recognised in Indonesia,” he said.

This mechanism, he continued, does not exempt products from halal certification obligations but rather constitutes recognition of foreign halal certificates meeting BPJPH’s halal standards.

Currently, several halal bodies in the United States are recognised by BPJPH, including the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), American Halal Foundation (AHF), Islamic Services of America (ISA), Halal Transactions of Omaha (HTO), and the ISWA Halal Certification Department.

Haikal also emphasised that mandatory halal policy applies universally to all countries wishing to market products in Indonesia.

According to him, recognition mechanisms through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) play a strategic role in strengthening global halal governance.

Beyond facilitating halal certificate recognition between countries, the scheme can also encourage national halal product exports and strengthen Indonesia’s position in international halal standard dynamics.

“Our principle is clear. Products that are halal must be clearly marked with halal certificates and labels, whilst non-halal products must also be clearly marked with non-halal statements,” Haikal said.

“Thus, the public can make informed choices, obtain certain information, and feel protected when consuming products circulating in the market,” he added.