Indonesia has postponed mandatory halal certification for imported food, beverages, slaughter products and slaughter services from 18 October 2026 to 18 October 2028. Susiwijono Moegiarso, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, said the extension took into account “the readiness of the halal ecosystem,” and the revised date for imports reflects the completion of mutual recognition agreements on halal certification. (ANTARA) The change was made through Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026, amending Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024; it was promulgated and took effect on 14 October 2026. The regulation also revokes the pre-import verification framework under BPJPH Regulation No. 4 of 2026, which had required administrative and physical checks of foreign halal products before importation, and it does not remove the underlying certification obligation. (Assegaf Hamzah & Partners) The government concluded that the wider halal ecosystem, which involves multiple agencies, was not yet ready for full implementation. (Tilleke & Gibbins) From 18 October 2028, imported food and beverage products, including raw ingredients and food additives, must be halal certified; non-halal products such as pork and alcohol can still enter with non-halal labelling, and certificates issued abroad must be registered by the Indonesian importer on BPJPH’s SiHalal portal. (DFAT)
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For US food brands considering Indonesia, halal certification has been the gating question. The delay buys time, not an exemption. Brands that plan to sell there can use the next two years to secure certification through an approved body, document ingredients and production processes, and confirm how their Indonesian importer will register certificates, rather than starting close to the 2028 deadline.
Sources
- ANTARA – RI extends halal certification mandate for select sectors to Oct 2028
- Assegaf Hamzah & Partners – Indonesia Postpones Halal Certification Deadlines for Several Product Categories and Revokes Pre-Import Verification
- Tilleke & Gibbins – Indonesia to Extend Halal Certification Deadline to October 2028
- DFAT – Complying with Indonesian halal requirements