Head of BPJPH and Trade Minister Coordinate Implementation of Mandatory Halal Certification for Export-Import Products

The Head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Ahmad Haikal Hasan, and Trade Minister (Mendag) Budi Santoso held a meeting to discuss the implementation of mandatory halal certification for export and import products. This step was taken to ensure cross-sectoral readiness in facing the increasing flow of global trade while supporting the approaching mandatory halal implementation. The meeting aimed to align policies and strengthen inter-agency synergy in supporting the implementation of mandatory halal certification. During the meeting at the Ministry of Trade office in Jakarta on Monday (27/4/2026), BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan emphasised that the implementation of mandatory halal certification is in a crucial phase. Therefore, cross-ministerial and inter-agency coordination becomes a key factor for the policy implementation to run effectively and provide certainty for business actors, especially those involved in export and import activities. The cordial meeting discussed several strategic issues, from policy readiness, regulatory harmonisation, to the governance of export and import product data that must comply with halal product assurance provisions. In addition, the meeting also addressed the importance of system integration and accelerating services to support the smooth flow of cross-country products. On that occasion, Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that the national trade sector is currently in a momentum of acceleration. For this reason, halal certification becomes an important part in improving the quality and trust in Indonesian products in the global market. “The mandatory (certification) halal for export and import products must become an instrument that strengthens Indonesia’s position as the world’s halal industry centre,” he asserted. In the meeting, BPJPH and the Ministry of Trade agreed that the implementation of mandatory halal should not become a trade barrier, but must provide added value for Indonesian products in the international market. Therefore, concrete steps are needed in the form of increasing business actors’ literacy, accelerating halal certification services, and strengthening integrated supervision. As a follow-up to the meeting, BPJPH and the Ministry of Trade will strengthen technical coordination in regulatory harmonisation, data exchange, and simplification of service processes related to halal certification for export and import products.