Indonesia Reaffirms Commitment to Implement Halal Certification Obligation by October 2026 at WTO STC Forum

Indonesia has reiterated its commitment to continuing the implementation of the halal certification obligation, or Wajib Halal, by October 2026 in accordance with the schedule set. The commitment was conveyed at the Specific Trade Concern (STC) forum of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In the forum, Indonesia expressed appreciation to several trading partners — the European Union, the United States, India, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland — for their continued attention and involvement in the implementation of the Halal Product Assurance System (SJPH) in Indonesia.

“The provisions on the implementation of the halal certification obligation are regulated in Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024. The regulation provides the legal basis for the national implementation of the mandatory halal product assurance policy,” said Ahmad Haikal Hasan, Head of the Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH) in a written statement, Sunday (8 March 2026).

“Indonesia emphasised that implementation will proceed according to the schedule already set. At this stage, no further extensions or additional transition period are planned, given that the schedule has been widely communicated to stakeholders from the outset,” he added.

“Previously, the government had granted a transition period by extending the deadline for halal certification obligation for several product categories to 17 October 2026, from 17 October 2024. This includes food and beverage products of micro and small enterprises (UMK), imported products, products from animals slaughtered for halal purposes, as well as slaughtering services.”

“This extension of the transition period was intended to provide sufficient time to complete the mutual recognition arrangements and to give business players the opportunity to prepare for compliance with the applicable provisions.”

Haikal emphasised that under the regulations, products containing non-halal ingredients may still enter, circulate, and be traded in Indonesia, provided there is a clear non-halal label in accordance with the applicable provisions. Consequently, products derived from ingredients prohibited under halal standards may still be imported and distributed in Indonesia subject to the relevant requirements.

Furthermore, Haikal explained that recognition of foreign halal certificates is conducted bilaterally and on a reciprocity basis between Indonesia and partner countries. Under the applicable provisions, only foreign Halal Certification Bodies established or authorised by the government or Islamic authorities in the country of origin, recognised by the competent authorities, and accredited by the local accreditation body or by BPJPH’s accreditation team, may certify products for the Indonesian market. The mutual recognition of halal certificates is a key factor in supporting smooth economic and trade relations with partner countries.

In this forum, Indonesia also explained halal logistics arrangements, including packaging, storage, and distribution services, designed to safeguard the integrity of halal products along the supply chain and to prevent cross-contamination with non-halal ingredients. These steps aim not only to protect consumers but also to provide legal certainty and clear operational guidance for service providers, while strengthening the credibility and reliability of the Halal Product Assurance System.

Therefore, this policy is expected to support the creation of a more trusted and predictable global halal trade ecosystem. The halal certification obligation for the logistics sector only applies to packaging, storage, and distribution services that are directly related to food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.