“There will be no postponement”
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan said: “Wajib Halal tetap kita implementasikan mulai 18 Oktober 2026. Tidak ada penundaan” (Mandatory Halal will be implemented from 18 October 2026. There will be no postponement). An inter-ministerial meeting announced by BPJPH in mid-September reached the same conclusion, putting an end to speculation about another extension.
The regulation is based on Law No. 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance and Government Regulation (PP) No. 42/2024. Under the roadmap, the transition period for imported goods and several other product groups ends on 17 October 2026, and enforcement begins the following day.
⚠️ KEY POINTS
Effective date: 18 October 2026. The transition period ends on 17 October 2026.
Products covered: food, beverages, additives, slaughtered products, cosmetics, herbal medicines, dietary supplements and many consumer goods (barang gunaan).
Sanctions: ranging from written warnings to mandatory withdrawal of products from circulation.
What do imported products need?
According to the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), foreign products must be certified by a foreign Halal certification body recognised by BPJPH under a mutual recognition agreement (MRA). The importer or its representative in Indonesia then registers the certificate on the online SIHALAL system to obtain a registration number. The dossier usually includes an application form, a list of ingredients and information about the factory and production facilities.
BPJPH says it is drafting separate guidance for micro and small businesses and for certain imported goods, including raw materials. Mr Haikal also stressed that the regulation is not a trade-restrictive measure and that the agency has no plans to conduct “sweeping” raids (sweeping) on businesses in the market.
📌 NOTE FOR VIETNAMESE BUSINESSES
According to information published up to early 2026, Vietnam and Indonesia have not yet signed an MRA on Halal certification. The BPJPH Head has said that many well-known Vietnamese fast-moving consumer goods, such as confectionery and beverages, lack Halal certification mainly for this reason. Businesses should check with their importers and the Vietnam Trade Office in Indonesia whether their current certificate is accepted by BPJPH.
For businesses: act this week
- Check your existing certificate: is the issuing body on BPJPH’s list of recognised foreign bodies?
- Work with your importer to check the SIHALAL registration status of every product code.
- Prepare ingredient documentation: trace the origin of every component, especially gelatine, emulsifiers, flavourings and yeast.
- List your products on a dedicated Halal trade channel to reach international buyers.
🛒 HALALHUB.VN – THE GATEWAY FOR VIETNAMESE GOODS INTO THE GLOBAL HALAL MARKET
Open a storefront to showcase products that are Halal-certified or in the process of certification to importers in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East. Register now at https://halalhub.vn
Glossary
- Halal: an Arabic word meaning “permissible” under Islamic law (Shariah). The opposite of Haram (forbidden).
- BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal): the Halal Product Assurance Agency, a body of the Indonesian Government authorised to issue Halal certificates.
- Wajib Halal: Indonesian for “mandatory Halal”, the name of the mandatory Halal certification policy.
- PP 42/2024 (Peraturan Pemerintah): the Indonesian Government Regulation implementing the Halal Product Assurance Law.
- MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement): thanks to an MRA, Halal certificates issued by a foreign body are accepted by BPJPH.
- SIHALAL: BPJPH’s online Halal information system, used to submit applications and register certificates.
- Barang gunaan: consumer goods (e.g. clothing, household items) subject to Halal regulation.
References
- BPJPH – Raker dengan DPR, Kepala BPJPH Pastikan Implementasi Wajib Halal Oktober 2026 Sesuai Tahapan
- ANTARA News – BPJPH tegaskan tidak ada penundaan implementasi Wajib Halal
- Tempo – BPJPH: Tidak Ada Penundaan Implementasi Wajib Halal
- Kontan – Wajib Halal Berlaku 18 Oktober 2026, Ini Daftar Produk, Sanksi & Cara Buat Sertifikat
- VPSA – Important warning: mandatory Halal certification when exporting to Indonesia (Vietnamese)
- VOV – Indonesia ready to cooperate with Vietnam in halal sector
