United States Understands Halal Labelling Essential for Indonesian Market Access, Says Halal Product Authority Chief

As mandatory halal certification requirements approach implementation, concerns have resurfaced regarding the entry of foreign products without halal labels into Indonesia. However, Ahmad Haikal Hasan, head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), has firmly stated that major economies such as the United States fully recognise the importance of halal labelling if their products are to be accepted by Indonesia’s predominantly Muslim market.

Haikal noted that the United States is a major nation and would certainly be willing to have its products enter Indonesia with halal certification.

“They (the United States) know that if it’s not halal, nobody will buy it,” Haikal said on Monday, 9 March 2026.

Haikal addressed the question of whether American products can freely enter Indonesia without halal labels, clarifying that halal certification bodies already operate in both the United States and Indonesia to process such certifications. He emphasised that halal has become a global trend, with current emphasis on transparency, traceability and trustworthiness.

“It’s outdated not to have halal certification today; it’s outdated not to have clear product ingredients today. We are in an era of transparency,” Haikal stated.