Indonesia unexpectedly delays mandatory Halal certification to October 2028 and scraps inspection of every imported shipment

🔄 IMPORTANT UPDATE

HalalHub.vn’s articles of 13–17 October 2026 on the 18 October 2026 deadline were written on the basis of BPJPH’s official statements at the time (“there will be no postponement”). On 17 October 2026, the Indonesian government announced a change to the timeline. The information in this article replaces the corresponding content of those earlier articles. We will continue to update it once the official amending regulation is issued.

A two-year extension and an amendment to Government Regulation PP 42/2024

According to ANTARA and CNBC Indonesia, the Secretary of Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, said the deadline is being extended by amending Articles 160 and 161 of Government Regulation PP 42/2024: the deadline moves from 17 October 2026 to 17 October 2028, and the obligation applies from 18 October 2028. The government said the decision was based on the readiness of the national Halal ecosystem and input from business and industry associations.

📌 KEY POINTS

Imports (food, beverages, slaughter products and services): Halal certification mandatory from 18 October 2028, tied to the completion of mutual recognition agreements (MRAs).

Micro and small businesses (food, beverages, slaughtering): extended to 17 October 2028.

Cosmetics, dietary supplements, herbal medicines, quasi-drugs, chemical products, genetically modified products and some consumer goods: extended to 17 October 2028.

BPJPH Regulation No. 4/2026 on pre-shipment Halal inspection of every imported shipment: to be repealed.

A U-turn after repeated “no postponement” statements

The decision came as a surprise because BPJPH head Ahmad Haikal Hasan had repeatedly stated that “there will be no postponement”, most recently in a press release on 14 October 2026. According to Bloomberg Technoz, the regulation amending PP 42/2024 has yet to be issued, so implementation details still need to be monitored.

LPPOM MUI, one of Indonesia’s largest Halal inspection bodies, advises businesses not to be complacent and to continue with certification now rather than wait for the deadline.

🇻🇳 WHAT IT MEANS FOR VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES

The immediate pressure is easing, but opportunities will not wait. Businesses gain more time to prepare, and linking the new deadline to MRAs opens a chance for Vietnam to negotiate mutual recognition with Indonesia. Even so, many Indonesian importers and retail chains still prefer Halal-certified goods. Businesses should continue their certification plans and reconfirm their partners’ requirements.

Glossary

• BPJPH: Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency.
• PP 42/2024 (Peraturan Pemerintah): the Indonesian government regulation implementing the Halal Product Assurance Law.
• Kemenko Perekonomian: Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
• MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement): an agreement on mutual recognition of Halal certification between BPJPH and foreign Halal authorities or bodies.
• LPPOM MUI: the Institute for the Assessment of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics of the Indonesian Ulema Council, one of Indonesia’s largest Halal inspection bodies.
• UMK (Usaha Mikro dan Kecil): micro and small businesses.

References

Legal texts and official sources

• Government of Indonesia – Government Regulation PP 42/2024 on the implementation of Halal product assurance (Articles 160 and 161 being amended; the amending regulation had not been issued at the time of publication)
• BPJPH – Wajib Halal Berlaku 18 Oktober 2026, BPJPH Siapkan Aturan yang Memudahkan Pelaku Usaha (Indonesian; press release issued before the extension decision)

Press and industry analysis (secondary sources, cited as published)

• ANTARA (South Kalimantan) – Pemerintah perpanjang wajib halal 2026 jadi 2028 (Indonesian)
• CNBC Indonesia (18 October 2026) – Wajib Sertifikat Halal Mundur ke 2028, Pemerintah Ungkap Alasannya (Indonesian)
• Liputan6 – Kewajiban Sertifikasi Halal Diundur Oktober 2028, Berikut Ketentuannya (Indonesian)
• Okezone (17 October 2026) – Wajib Halal Diundur Jadi Oktober 2028 (Indonesian)
• GoKepri – Kewajiban Sertifikasi Halal Kembali Diundur (Indonesian)
• Bloomberg Technoz – Pemerintah Tunda Penerapan Wajib Halal Oktober 2028 (Indonesian)
• Republika – Wajib Halal Mundur ke 2028, Ini Kata LPPOM (Indonesian)
• detik – Wajib Halal Diundur hingga 2028, LPPOM MUI Minta Sertifikasi Tak Ditunda (Indonesian)

Photos: Unsplash (Unsplash licence).

HalalHub.vn · Published 19 October 2026 · Legal information checked as of 19 October 2026; regulations may change, so please check official sources before making decisions.

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