United States commits to compliance with Indonesia's halal product regulations

Jakarta – The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) revealed that the United States has committed to complying with Indonesia’s halal product regulations.

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

“The US government through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has previously stated its commitment to comply with Indonesia’s mandatory halal requirements,” Haikal stated in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

He further noted that products do not require halal certification in Indonesia if they already possess a halal certificate from a Foreign Halal Certification Body (LHLN) recognised by BPJPH.

“Therefore, (such products) do not need to be recertified in Indonesia. They only need to be registered so their halal certificate can be officially recognised in Indonesia,” he said.

This mechanism, he continued, does not mean products are exempted from halal certification obligations, but rather represents recognition of foreign halal certificates that meet BPJPH’s halal standards.

Currently, several halal certification bodies in the United States have been 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 their products in Indonesia.

According to him, the recognition mechanism through Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) has a strategic role in strengthening halal governance globally. Besides facilitating recognition of halal certificates between countries, the scheme can also encourage national halal product exports and strengthen Indonesia’s position in international halal standards dynamics.

“Our principle is clear. Halal products must be clearly marked with halal certificates and labels, while non-halal products must also be clearly labelled as non-halal,” Haikal said.

“This way, the public can make conscious choices, obtain information certainty, and feel protected in consuming products circulating in the market,” he added.