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Register a Product and Get Halal Certification in Indonesia

Registering your products and obtaining a halal certification in Indonesia could be a wise business decision in a pre-dominantly Muslim country.

Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population. Getting your products a halal certification, therefore, means you’re tapping into a larger market base as opposed to a small segment.

Indonesia’s neighbouring countries like Brunei and Malaysia are among the other nations that place emphasis on getting products certified halal. Both have their own established halal certification systems: in Malaysia, halal certification is run by JAKIM and the state Islamic religious councils, and in Brunei by the Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).

Halal certification standards around the world are different. In Indonesia, it is per MUI’s Fatwa Indonesia and it is based on the Sharia Law. In Sharia Law, products or services cannot be connected to anything that insinuates it might be haram. MUI does not allow the nature, design, and packaging of the product to resemble anything that is haram.

Any products or services certified as halal from oversees only need to be registered with BPJPH. They can later be sold in Indonesia without having to change their halal registration status. However, this does not apply to all foreign imported products. Anything not on the list must be assessed by the BPJPH.

 

What Products Can Be Certified as Halal?

The following categories can apply for halal certification:

• Restaurants
• Catering
• Food and beverage
• Slaughterhouses
• Drugs
• Cosmetics

 

This means all the ingredients used in the products and methods being used in the slaughterhouse, for example, must comply with the halal requirements to qualify.

 

How to Obtain Halal Certification in Indonesia?

The National Body of Halal Assurance (BPJPH), a non-ministerial government agency accountable to the President through the Minister of Religious Affairs, is the highest authority responsible for issuing these certificates. They coordinate with the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), the highest authority when it comes to Islamic affairs. BPJPH sets the standards and regulations for halal product assurance (under Law No. 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance, as amended, and Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024), while MUI issues the halal fatwa.

Products are examined and tested by a halal inspection body (Lembaga Pemeriksa Halal, LPH) accredited by BPJPH, such as LPPOM. MUI then determines in a halal fatwa session whether the product is halal; the Halal Product Fatwa Committee makes this determination where the regulation provides.

Prior to this, getting a halal certification was voluntary, but this has now changed. The halal market in Indonesia is major, and it is important to understand the market requirements. Products derived from prohibited materials are exempt from halal certification but must carry a non-halal statement.

The Halal Product Law took effect on 17 October 2014, with the mandatory halal-certification obligation beginning on 17 October 2019. For medium and large businesses, food and beverage products, their raw materials, additives and processing aids, and slaughtered products and slaughtering services had to be certified by 17 October 2024; micro and small businesses have until 17 October 2026.

 

Government Regulation 42/2024

Government Regulation 42 of 2024, the current implementing regulation (it revoked Government Regulation 39 of 2021, which had replaced Government Regulation 31 of 2019), sets out the scope and requirements for halal assurance for products and related services that are imported, circulated or traded in Indonesia.

Under the regulation, halal inspection bodies conduct examinations and testing as part of the certification process. Non-halal products must also be clearly labelled, while foreign halal certificates are registered with BPJPH under the applicable registration procedure.

To get your products certified, you will need to follow the steps below. 3E Accounting can assist to ensure your process is as easy as possible:

• Step 1 – Satisfy BPJPH’s halal requirements. This can be done with product, the production process and materials. You will also need to implement the Halal Product Assurance System (Sistem Jaminan Produk Halal, SJPH).
• Step 2 – Gather your necessary documents and prepare for the application process. You may submit your documents to 3E Accounting together with the fees for the registration and halal certification contract.
• Step 3 – Complete all your documents. This must be done in accordance with the certification status. This is a requirement by BPJPH. 3E Accounting will submit them to the authorities for processing.
• Step 4 – We will guide you during the pre-audit assessment process. Guidance will also be given during the audit and post-audit and lab analysis process. This helps to ensure compliance.
• Step 5 – Once your product has passed the halal inspection body’s examination and testing and MUI has determined it halal, you will be issued with a certificate. This will be issued by BPJPH.

 

Ask Us About Our Services

At 3E Accounting, we provide a wide range of services catered to your every business need. We understand that the local regulations in a foreign country can be challenging. We’re here to help make it easy for you. For more information about how we can help you obtain your Halal certification in Indonesia, contact us today.