Indonesia Halal Certification for Imports, Moved to October 2028: BPJPH, Foreign Certificates and Labels

Who must be halal certified, and when

Law No. 33 of 2014 requires products that enter, circulate and are traded in Indonesia to be halal certified, and Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 sets the phases by product type. For food and beverages, medium and large Indonesian businesses had to be certified by 17 October 2024. The phase-in for micro and small businesses, for food and beverages from abroad and for cosmetics was due to end on 17 October 2026. Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026, enacted on 14 October 2026 and announced by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on 16 October 2026, amended PP 42/2024 and moved these dates: the phase-in for micro and small businesses and for cosmetics now ends on 17 October 2028, and for food and beverages from abroad the obligation begins on 18 October 2028, taking into account the completion of mutual recognition arrangements for halal certificates. Before the amendment, Article 160 of the Regulation had left the date for products from abroad to the Minister, no later than 17 October 2026.

In June 2026 BPJPH's head said the requirement covers not only domestic goods but also foreign products entering Indonesia, and BPJPH coordinated with other ministries on import controls. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade lists the later deadlines: over-the-counter medicines by 2029, prescription medicines by 2034 and Class D medical devices by 2039. Check the deadline for your exact product category with your importer.

BPJPH said in October 2026 that the adjustment took into account the readiness of the halal ecosystem and input from businesses and industry, and asked businesses to use the time to prepare rather than delay certification. BPJPH also warned about scams in which people using its name demand payment of fines or sanctions; official information is only on bpjph.halal.go.id.

Using your own country's halal certificate

• The certificate must be issued by a foreign halal certification body that BPJPH has approved under a mutual recognition arrangement, for the product category concerned. Australia's DFAT, for example, lists the Australian bodies approved by BPJPH and the scope of each approval.
• The Indonesian importer, not the exporter, registers the foreign halal certificate in BPJPH's SIHALAL portal. The fee was reported as IDR 800,000 per certificate in August 2024.
• Once registered, the product can carry the Indonesian halal logo and the registration number.
• If your certifier is not approved by BPJPH, the product can instead be certified directly through BPJPH's process in Indonesia, with the importer or a representative.

The halal check at import

BPJPH Regulation 4/2026 on the conformity of foreign halal products entering Indonesia, in force since September 2026, adds a halal check before the import declaration, with inspection at the loading warehouse by an appointed surveyor. The government announced on 16 October 2026 that it will revoke the regulation, and BPJPH's legal database lists Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026 as revoking it, so confirm with your importer whether the check still applies before booking a shipment.

Labels: the halal logo and non-halal products

Halal-certified products must show BPJPH's official halal logo and the registration or certificate number. Purple is the preferred colour of the logo, and black and white is accepted under certain technical conditions. Products made from materials that are prohibited under Islamic law, such as pork, do not get a halal certificate: under Article 26 of Law No. 33 of 2014 the business must show non-halal information on the product, and BPJPH Regulation 3/2026 sets its form, "NON HALAL" or "MENGANDUNG BABI" (contains pork). Indonesian labelling rules from other authorities, such as BPOM for food and cosmetics, still apply.

What to prepare as an exporter

• Ask your importer which category and deadline apply to each product, and whether your halal certifier is approved by BPJPH for that category.
• Send the importer your halal certificate, with any legalisation or apostille the importer needs for registration, and the product list with HS codes.
• Plan the time for registration in SIHALAL and for any label changes before the first shipment after the deadline.
• Keep the product names, HS codes and manufacturer details identical on the halal certificate, commercial invoice and packing list.
• For products with non-halal ingredients, agree the non-halal labelling with the importer instead of seeking certification.