Halal certification required for certain products
Based on Law No.33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance as amended under Law No.6/2023 on Job Creation, and Government Regulation No. 39/2021.
- In general, the following Products that will be imported, distributed, and traded in Indonesia must be certified as being halal based on halal certificate: (i) Food and beverages Products (ii) Pharmaceuticals; (iii) Cosmetics; (iv) Chemical products (which related to food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics); (v) Genetically modified products (which related to food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics); (vi) Biological products which relate to food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics; and (vii) Other goods being worn, used or utilized by people namely in this case, only goods made from animals and/or contain animal elements.
Products with non-halal ingredients cannot be given halal certification. The import, distribution and trading of such products in Indonesia can be made on condition that a non-halal notice is stated on the relevant non-halal products packaging. - Halal certificate can be applied to and obtained from BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk/the Halal Product Assurance Agency), a government institution under the Ministry of Religion affairs (“MOR”) or, from a committee of halal product established by MOR (“Halal Committee”) specifically for the application from micro and small businesses.
Fees, based on the tariff set forth under the Minister of Finance regulation, will be charged on any application of halal certificate. Micro and small business however is exempted from this fees payment. - Imported Products with halal certification from the halal authority abroad, needs to be re-registered at BPJPH. The re-register for halal certificate can be applied either by its importer or by its Products’ authorized representative in Indonesia. A copy of the relevant foreign halal certificate, legalized by the Indonesian embassy/consulate must be attached to the application.
- BPJPH will verify completion of data and documents before issuing an acceptance of a halal certificate application. After the application is accepted:
• The applicant together with BPJPH will choose an LPH (Lembaga Pemeriksa Halal/ Halal Inspection/Audit Agency ) namely an institution established either by Government or by society having accreditation from BPJPH, to audit halalness of products.
• The LPH audit report will be submitted to MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia/Indonesian Ulama Council) with a copy to BPJPH.
• MUI will examine the report and decide on whether a halal certificate can or cannot be issued.
• Based on the decision from MUI, BPJPH will issue a halal certificate to the applicant.
• Particularly for the application from micro and small businesses, the halal audit will be conducted and the decision be issued as a fatwa halal by Halal Committee. Halal Committee may also issue a fatwa halal to a non-micro and small businesses, if no decision yet issued by MUI until the applicable schedule for issuing a decision is passed. - Halal certificate is valid for an indefinite period as long the product’s ingredient and/or the relevant halal procedures are still the same from the beginning when the halal certificate is issued. Previously under Law No.33/2014, the halal certificate was valid for 4 years, an extension was not automatically but should be applied any time of the term expiration.
- Currently, the obligation for furnishing halal certification on Products must be fulfilled within the following schedule:
• Food and beverages; Food and beverages additional ingredients; and Slaughter products and slaughter service at the latest on 17 October 2024.
• Health supplements; traditional medicines and cosmetics; genetically modified products, chemical products at the latest on 17 October 2026.
• Over the counter medicine at the latest on 17 October 2029.
• Drugs/medicines excluding psychotropic at the latest on 17 October 2034.