From Oct. 18, 2026, products sold in Indonesia in the covered categories must be halal certified or labeled as non-halal. The requirement now reaches imported food and beverages, food made by micro and small businesses, cosmetics, supplements and herbal medicines, chemical products and many consumer goods. Over-the-counter medicines follow in 2029 and prescription drugs in 2034.
Indonesia, with the world’s largest Muslim population, is the biggest market to make halal certification a legal condition of sale rather than a voluntary label. More than 9.6 million products had been certified by 2025, and the government planned 1.35 million free certificates for small businesses in 2026, Antara, the state news agency, reported. BPJPH, the government’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency, administers the system under Law 33 of 2014 and Government Regulation 42 of 2024.
What the October 2026 phase covers
The phase for micro and small businesses’ food, beverages, slaughtered products and slaughter services ended on Oct. 17, 2026, under Article 160 of Government Regulation 42 of 2024, and the same date applies to foreign products in those categories. From Oct. 18, the requirement also applies to:
- Cosmetics.
- Chemical products and genetically engineered products.
- Traditional medicines, quasi-drugs and health supplements.
- Food raw materials, additives and processing aids.
- Consumer goods, including apparel, household goods, worship items, stationery and Class A medical devices.
Large and medium producers of food and beverages have been covered since Oct. 17, 2024.
No postponement, but no raids
“Wajib Halal tetap kita implementasikan mulai 18 Oktober 2026. Tidak ada penundaan,” BPJPH’s head, Ahmad Haikal Hasan, said on Oct. 10, 2026, meaning that mandatory halal takes effect on Oct. 18 with no postponement, according to Antara. He said there would be no “sweeping” raids: enforcement will start with guidance and supervision, and special provisions for micro and small businesses, imports, raw materials and consumer goods were still being prepared. He also warned businesses about scammers posing as BPJPH officials.
The 2026 implementing regulations
| Regulation | What it does |
|---|---|
| BPJPH Regulation 2/2026 | Administrative sanctions, escalating from a written warning |
| BPJPH Regulation 3/2026 | Non-halal labeling: “MENGANDUNG BABI” (“contains pork”) with a pig image, or “NON HALAL,” on the outermost packaging; products already on the market have 12 months to comply; drugs and medical devices excluded |
| BPJPH Regulation 4/2026 | Halal assurance for imports, checked through documents in the SIHALAL system before goods leave the country of origin |
Under Regulation 4, importers apply through SIHALAL using an appointed surveyor, such as Sucofindo or Surveyor Indonesia, and the halal data travel with the customs declaration. BPJPH Deputy Chuzaemi Abidin said the rule is not an import ban or restriction, and uncertified goods can still enter and be labeled in Indonesia before sale, according to LPPOM MUI, Indonesia’s largest halal audit body.
Certificates from foreign halal bodies
Imported products can be certified by a foreign halal body that Indonesia recognizes, with the certificate registered in SIHALAL. Indonesia recognized 87 foreign bodies in 32 countries as of June 2025, according to ChemLinked, and added four more, in China, the Philippines and Mexico, in February 2026, Antara reported. Exporters should confirm their certifier’s status before shipping; the broader problem of competing recognition lists is covered in our analysis of halal certification fragmentation.
Trade deals have not removed the requirement. In February 2026, Indonesia’s cabinet secretary said the reciprocal trade agreement with the United States did not exempt American food from halal certification, Bernama reported. Our report on how Indonesia’s deadline affects Thai food exporters shows how one major supplier is adjusting.
What certification costs
Under BPJPH Head Decree 141 of 2021, application fees are 300,000 rupiah for micro and small businesses, 5 million rupiah for medium companies and 12.5 million rupiah for large or foreign companies, with lower renewal fees, JawaPos reported. Micro businesses with simple, low-risk products can use a free “self-declare” route with a trained facilitator. Audits by a halal inspection body are charged separately on the regular route.
Later deadlines
Over-the-counter and limited over-the-counter medicines have until Oct. 17, 2029, and prescription drugs, excluding psychotropics, until Oct. 17, 2034, according to BPJPH. Medical devices are phased by risk class.
A checklist for exporters
- Confirm whether each product falls in a category covered from Oct. 18, 2026.
- Check that your certifier is recognized by BPJPH, or plan Indonesian certification.
- Register foreign certificates in SIHALAL and arrange the surveyor for the halal assurance report.
- Prepare non-halal labels for products that contain pork or other non-halal ingredients.
- Watch for the special provisions BPJPH said it was preparing for imports and small businesses.
For the basics of certification, see our guide to what it means to be halal certified.
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