Exporting to Indonesia: the Halal requirement from 18 October 2026
From 18 October 2026 a Halal certificate is mandatory for marketing food and cosmetics in Indonesia. What is required, in what order, and how much time it really takes.
The deadline. From 18 October 2026 Halal certification becomes mandatory for marketing food and cosmetic products in Indonesia, regardless of the size of the company. Those who export without a recognised certificate risk having their goods blocked. The technical timescales of a certification are measured in weeks: anyone starting in October is already late.
Why Indonesia is a case apart
Indonesia is the largest Muslim market in the world by population, and it is also the only major market in which Halal certification has moved from a commercial requirement to a legal obligation overseen by a state body. Being certified by just any body is not enough: the certificate must be recognised within the Indonesian system.
Who does what: BPJPH and MUI
The Indonesian system is built around two bodies that should not be confused:
BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal) is the state body that manages Halal product assurance: it registers, issues and oversees compliance. It is the institutional counterpart.
MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia) is the body that provides the religious assessment supporting the process.
For an Italian company the practical consequence is just one: its Halal certificate must be issued by a foreign body recognised within this system. A technically flawless certificate issued by a non-recognised body does not solve the customs problem.
What an Italian company must do, in order
Check that your certification body is recognised for the Indonesian market. This is the first check, and it must be done before any other expense.
Define the scope: which product codes you actually intend to market in Indonesia. There is no need to certify the entire catalogue.
Collect the ingredient documentation: complete bill of materials, technical data sheets, origin of additives, flavourings, enzymes and any components of animal origin. This is the phase that determines the overall duration.
Check the production process: separation from non-compliant production, cleaning, storage, traceability.
On-site audit and closure of any findings.
Issue of the certificate and completion of the formalities required for the Indonesian market.
Manage labelling and changes: every change of recipe or supplier affects the validity of what has been declared.
Checklist of documentation to prepare
If you want to save time, you can start collecting these documents today, in parallel with your quote request:
Complete list of the product codes intended for the Indonesian market, with codes and labels.
Complete bill of materials for each product code, without omitting processing aids.
Technical data sheets and declarations of origin for every ingredient, in particular gelatine, emulsifiers, enzymes, flavourings, colourings and fats.
List of suppliers, with any Halal certifications already available.
List of the production sites involved, including contract manufacturers and warehouses.
Plant layout and cleaning procedures, with the related records.
Traceability system: how a finished batch is traced back to the raw material.
What latecomers risk
The risk is not theoretical. Without recognised certification, goods may be rejected or blocked at customs, with storage and return costs borne by the exporter, the loss of the order and, often, of the customer: an Indonesian importer facing an empty shelf changes supplier, it does not wait. There is also a less visible but more costly effect: re-entering a market after being stopped takes more time and more resources than entering it compliantly the first time.
How much time it really takes. The dominant variable is not the audit, which can be scheduled within a few weeks: it is collecting documentation from suppliers. Companies with a simple supply chain and well-organised documentation complete the application review in a limited time; companies with dozens of ingredients from non-EU suppliers may need months for that phase alone. That is why the start date matters more than the deadline.
HQC Italia and the Indonesian market
HQC Italia has operated since 1983 and is recognised by the main authorities of Islamic markets, including MUI and BPJPH for Indonesia. We carry out the entire certification process, from the evaluation of ingredients to the issue of the certificate, with an Italian-speaking contact.
Only a few weeks remain until 18 October 2026. We will check free of charge whether your products are ready for the Indonesian market.
From when is Halal certification mandatory in Indonesia?
From 18 October 2026 for food and cosmetic products marketed in the country, regardless of the size of the company.
Is my Italian Halal certificate valid in Indonesia?
Only if the body that issued it is recognised within the Indonesian system managed by BPJPH. This is the first check to make, before any other expense: a non-recognised certificate does not solve the customs problem.
What is the difference between BPJPH and MUI?
BPJPH is the state body that manages Halal product assurance and the related formalities. MUI is the body that provides the religious assessment supporting the process.
How long does it take to get certified?
The dominant variable is collecting documentation from suppliers, not the audit. With a simple supply chain and well-organised documents the timescales are limited; with dozens of ingredients from non-EU suppliers that phase can take months.
What happens if I export without recognised certification?
The goods may be rejected or blocked at customs, with storage and return costs borne by the exporter and the likely loss of the order and the customer.
Do I have to certify my whole catalogue?
No. The scope is limited to the product codes you actually intend to market in Indonesia.
Legal notes: HQC Italia operates in accordance with the international standards OIC/SMIIC 1:2019, OIC/SMIIC 2:2019, OIC/SMIIC 4:2018, GSO 2055-1:2015, GSO 2055-2:2021, UAE.S 2055-1:2015, UAE.S 2055-2:2016, MS 1500:2019 and BPJPH Decree 78/2023.