Get Ready! Food Products to Cosmetics Must Be Halal Certified by October 2026

All products in certain categories circulating in Indonesia must be halal certified by no later than 17 October 2026. The Director of Halal Product Assurance, M. Fuad Nasar, stated that this policy represents the state’s presence in providing protection to the public.

“All products circulating in the categories of food and beverages, quasi-medicines, health supplements, cosmetics, chemical products, genetically engineered products, and consumer goods must be halal certified in accordance with legal provisions,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday (22/4/2026) via a written statement.

He added that halal regulations concern not only administrative aspects but also religious values and consumer protection. “Halal issues are an external domain of religion that requires regulation through public policy. If not regulated, it can cause social disorder,” he explained.

According to him, halal certification differs from business licensing because it requires religious fatwa legitimacy. “Halal certification is not the same as licensing, because determining whether a product is halal or not requires religious fatwa legitimacy,” Fuad emphasised.

The implementation of the Halal Product Assurance (JPH) policy has been carried out gradually since 2019. The first phase targeted medium and large businesses until 2024, while micro and small enterprises (UMK) and other sectors are given time until 17 October 2026.

In this context, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) serves as the policy formulator guarding halal values, norms, and procedures according to legislation, as well as the guardian of halal substantive values. “Halal is not merely an administrative label, but concerns the faith and psychological peace of the ummah,” he revealed.