Indonesia Halal Certification: BPJPH Guidelines, Process, and How Can Comply 

Indonesia has made halal certification a mandatory legal requirement for a broad range of goods being imported into the country starting October 2026 Indonesia. 

This regulation is crucial for foreign businesses, importers, and exporters in industries like food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods who wish to enter or continue operating in the Indonesian market. Compliance with Indonesia’s halal regulations, overseen by the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), is now a fundamental step for market access.

In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of the following:

• Indonesia’s mandatory halal certification law
• Step-by-step Indonesia halal certification process for exporters
• Indonesia’s halal certification requirements

Mandatory Products for Indonesia’s Mandatory Halal Certification

Indonesia has adopted a staged approach to mandatory halal certification by grouping products and setting compliance deadlines for each group. The table below summarizes the key deadlines by product category as stipulated by the government regulation. 

Product Category	Mandatory Halal Certification Deadline
Food and Beverages (finished food and drink products) – also includes raw materials, food additives, and processing aids for F&B, as well as slaughtered animal products and slaughter services.	October 17, 2026 – Products in this group produced by medium and large enterprises must be halal-certified by this date.
Pharmaceuticals (Nutraceuticals/Traditional/Herbal Medicines, Health Supplements) – non-prescription traditional medicines, vitamins, etc.	October 17, 2026 – Mandatory for all the specified products. (Over-the-counter (OTC) modern medicines have a 2029 deadline and prescription drugs have a 2034 deadline)
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products – makeup, skincare, toiletries, etc.	October 17, 2026 – Must be halal-certified by this date. Cosmetics are explicitly included in the second phase of mandatory certification due to high demand from Indonesian Muslim consumers.
Chemical, Biological, and Genetically-Engineered Products – chemicals and biotech products that are ingested or applied to the body (or related to the above categories).	October 17, 2026 – Must be certified by this date as well. This broad category can include things like certain food-grade chemicals, reagents, or cleaning agents that might contact halal products.
Utilized Consumer Goods	October 17, 2026 – These goods must be halal-certified by this date.
Class A Medical Devices – Class A refers to low-risk medical devices (e.g. simple surgical instruments, bandages, etc.).	October 17, 2026 – Halal certification required by this date for Class A devices.

Sources: Key dates adapted from Government Regulation No. 42/2024 (which amended the timeline set by PP 39/2021). 

Indonesia’s Halal Certification Process

The Indonesia halal certification process can be divided into five key steps. Below, we break down the key steps in the halal certification process:

Step 1. Confirm Recognition of Your Current Halal Certifier

The first step is to get in touch with a BPJPH accredited halal certification body, such as the American Halal Foundation. If you’re already halal certified, check whether your existing halal certification body (HCB) is recognized by BPJPH for the appropriate scope here. 

• If recognized, your products can use the Foreign Halal Certificate Registration (SHLN) route.
  
• If not recognized, you must contact a BPJPH accredited halal certification body, such as the American Halal Foundation. 

Step 2. Apply for Halal Certification With the Accredited Body

This step involves completing the halal certification application process, which starts by submitting an online application through the BPJPH SIHALAL portal and uploading all supporting documents, including ingredient lists, product flowcharts, and your Halal Assurance System (HAS) manual.

After the documentation review, your facility will undergo a halal audit conducted by a qualified inspection body to verify compliance with Indonesia’s halal standards.

The American Halal Foundation (AHF) supports this process through its trained audit centers across multiple U.S. cities, ensuring that American manufacturers can complete halal audits locally before their certification is submitted for BPJPH registration. This streamlined approach helps U.S. companies meet Indonesia’s halal compliance requirements efficiently and without unnecessary disruption to their operations.

Step 3. Submit Application via SIHALAL Portal

Your local representative registers your products through ptsp.halal.go.id and uploads the required documents:

Document	Purpose
Apostilled foreign halal certificate (if applicable)	Proof of prior halal compliance
Company profile & business license (NIB or equivalent)	Identify manufacturer and importer
Product list & HS codes	Define certification scope
Ingredient list & production process flow	For technical assessment
Halal Assurance System (HAS) or SJPH manual	Internal halal management system

BPJPH reviews for completeness, then assigns the case for inspection or registration verification.

Step 4. Verification Process

BPJPH verifies the foreign certificate’s authenticity and issues a registration number and product registration which will be valid for the same duration as your halal certificate issued by the halal certification body in your host country. 

Step 5. Labeling and Maintenance

After approval, BPJPH grants a Halal Registration Number and authorizes the use of the official Halal Indonesia logo on packaging. You must:

• Display the logo and registration/certificate number.
  
• Maintain your Halal Assurance System (HAS).
  
• Renew certification every 4 years or earlier if product formulas, suppliers, or facilities change.

Indonesia’s Halal Certification Requirements

Here is a summary of the halal certification requirements as detailed by the BPJPH halal guidelines:   

Category	Halal Standards Requirement	Key Compliance Notes for Foreign Manufacturers
Product Eligibility	All products entering, circulating, or traded in Indonesia that are consumed, applied, or used by the public must be halal-certified.	Includes food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, chemical & biological products, and consumer goods. Excludes naturally halal items (e.g., fresh fruits, vegetables, water).
Animal-Derived Ingredients	Must come from halal-slaughtered animals per Islamic law (zabiha), certified by an accredited halal authority.	Pork and its derivatives (e.g., lard, gelatin, enzymes, collagen) are strictly prohibited. Bovine or poultry sources must have halal slaughter certification.
Plant-Derived Ingredients	Generally halal, provided no cross-contamination occurs with haram or najis materials during cultivation, processing, or handling.	Must ensure no alcohol-based solvents or haram fertilizers are used in processing extracts or flavors.
Microbial & Enzymatic Ingredients	Must originate from halal sources (non-haram substrates).	For enzymes, microbial cultures, and fermentation products, the growth media must not contain pork or blood derivatives.
Alcohol / Ethanol Use	Any ethanol derived from khamr (alcoholic drinks) is prohibited. Technical ethanol may be permitted if not from alcoholic fermentation and residue in the final product is below halal limits.	Common in flavors, extracts, and pharmaceuticals, source documentation is required.
Processing Aids	Must be halal-compliant and not contain najis materials (e.g., blood, dead animals, human body parts).	Includes lubricants, anti-foaming agents, and filtration materials. Must ensure halal-certified origin if they contact the product.
Packaging Materials	Must be non-toxic, clean, and halal, not made from animal derivatives (like gelatin films or stearic acid from non-halal tallow).	Recycled materials must be assessed for contamination risk. Inner packaging must be halal-safe.
Flavorings, Colorants, and Additives	Must be halal-certified or derived from synthetic or plant-based sources.	Flavor carriers (e.g., glycerin, ethanol, emulsifiers) are critical control points; must verify origin and halal status.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Indonesia’s Halal Certification

Even well-intentioned businesses can stumble in the course of halal certification. Here are some common pitfalls that U.S. exporters and other foreign companies should be wary of, along with guidance on how to avoid these mistakes:

Pitfall	How to Avoid It
Assuming your existing halal certificate is automatically valid in Indonesia.Many companies think that because they have a halal certification from another country, they don’t need to do anything extra for Indonesia.	Don’t assume, verify recognition. Check BPJPH’s list of approved foreign halal bodies to see if your certifier is recognized for the scope your products fall under.
Waiting until the last minute to comply with deadlines.Some businesses delayed action, hoping for extensions or leniency, and then scrambled when the enforcement date arrived.	Start early and treat the deadlines as firm. Indonesia did give a one-time extension for importers until 2026 for foods. Begin the certification process well ahead of the deadline (6-12 months prior) to allow for audits and any required changes.
Incomplete documentation.Applications often get delayed because companies fail to provide a full breakdown of ingredients, or documents are not in order.	Thoroughly prepare your documents. Get in touch with AHF to get access to the Indonesia specific halal certification checklist.

Learn More About the Indonesia Halal Certification Guidelines

Indonesia’s halal certification requirements, administered by BPJPH, are now a central aspect of doing business in the Indonesian market for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer products. 

For U.S. exporters and multinational companies, complying with these rules is not just about avoiding penalties, but a requisite to enter the country’s 230 million Muslim consumer market. To learn more about the Indonesia halal certification guidelines or qualify your products, get in touch with AHF’s Indonesia focused division at info@halalfoundation.org or +1 (630) 759-4981.

FAQs

Q. What are the consequences of failing to comply with the mandatory Indonesia Halal Certification Law?

A. Indonesian law imposes administrative penalties which escalate if a business fails to certify required products in time. Initially, BPJPH may issue a written warning or order the withdrawal of non-certified products from circulation.

Q. Which U.S Halal Certification bodies are accredited by BPJPH for all the mandatory scopes?

A. There are three U.S halal certification bodies officially accredited by BPJPH however only the American Halal Foundation (AHF) has all the scopes that require mandatory halal certification according to Indonesian guidelines.

Q. What is the validity period of the Indonesia accredited halal certificate?

A. Halal certificates are valid for 1-4 years from the date of issuance. They must be renewed before expiration or sooner if there are changes to ingredients, suppliers, or production processes.

Q. Do imported products require new halal labeling in Indonesia even if already labeled halal elsewhere?

A. Yes. All products sold in Indonesia must display the official BPJPH “Halal Indonesia” logo and registration number, even if already labeled halal for other markets.

Q. What are the most common reasons for halal certification rejections or delays?

A. The most frequent issues include incomplete documentation, non-halal ingredients (e.g., gelatin, enzymes, or flavorings), and supplier certificates not recognized by BPJPH. Working with an experienced halal certifier like AHF helps prevent these setbacks.

Q. Can one halal certificate cover multiple product lines?

A. Yes, as long as the products share the same production facility, ingredients, and process controls. Otherwise, separate halal certificates or scope extensions may be required.

Q. Who can help U.S. companies get Indonesia halal certification?

A. The American Halal Foundation (AHF) is accredited by BPJPH for multiple scopes and has trained audit centers across the U.S. to facilitate compliance for manufacturers exporting to Indonesia. Contact info@halalfoundation.org or +1 (630) 759-4981 for Indonesia-specific halal certification support.