Halal Certification for Selling Food and Cosmetics in Indonesia

Why this matters: Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority country and one of Asia's biggest consumer markets. Shoppers check for the halal logo, retailers and marketplaces ask for proof, and products without the right status risk being pulled from shelves or held at customs. Getting halal right is now a basic condition of selling, not a marketing extra.

Key Takeaways

• Indonesia's halal rules come from Law No. 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance and its implementing regulations, administered by BPJPH.
• As of late 2026, imported food, beverages, cosmetics, supplements, traditional medicines and several other product groups must comply from October 18, 2026, and BPJPH has publicly said there will be no postponement.
• Foreign brands usually apply through an Indonesian importer or authorized local representative, not directly.
• If your current halal certifier is recognized by BPJPH, you can usually register that certificate, which is faster than a full Indonesian audit.
• Halal certification is separate from BPOM registration. Most food and cosmetics need both.
• Non-halal products are allowed if clearly labeled as non-halal.

The Legal Basics in Plain Language

Indonesia passed its Halal Product Assurance Law (Law No. 33 of 2014) to make halal certification mandatory for products sold in the country, phased in over several years. The rules are carried out through government regulations, including Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021 and the later Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024, which updated the phases and timelines.

The agency in charge is BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal), the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency. It works with two other groups:

• LPH (Lembaga Pemeriksa Halal): accredited halal inspection bodies that audit ingredients, suppliers and production.
• The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) fatwa process: which issues the religious ruling that a product is halal, based on the audit findings.

BPJPH then issues the halal certificate, and the product can carry Indonesia's official halal label.

These rules are detailed and change often. This article is general information, not legal advice. Work with an Indonesian regulatory consultant or lawyer for your exact products.

Which Products Are Covered and When

Indonesia phased in the halal obligation by product type and business size. Food and beverages from medium and large domestic businesses had to comply from October 2024. For imported products and many other categories, the key date is October 2026.

According to BPJPH statements in mid-2026 and guides from compliance firms, the October 18, 2026 phase covers groups including:

• Food and beverages, including imported products.
• Slaughtered products and slaughtering services.
• Cosmetics.
• Health supplements, traditional and natural medicines, and quasi-drugs.
• Chemical products and genetically engineered products.
• Raw materials, food additives and processing aids.
• Certain goods such as some household health products, kitchenware and Class A medical devices.

Prescription drugs and higher-class medical devices follow later timelines. In a June 2026 hearing with Indonesia's parliament, the head of BPJPH stated there would be no postponement of the October 2026 obligation, and in early October 2026 the MUI also publicly backed implementation without delay. Even so, enforcement details can shift, so check BPJPH's latest announcements before shipping.

Halal Certification in Indonesia for Foreign Products: Two Routes

Foreign brands generally have two ways to meet the rules. Which one fits depends on your current halal certificate.

Route 1: Register your foreign halal certificate

If your product already holds a halal certificate from a foreign halal certification body that BPJPH recognizes through a mutual recognition agreement (MRA), you can register that certificate in Indonesia. This is often called foreign halal certificate registration.

Key points:

• The application goes through BPJPH's online system (SIHALAL), usually filed by your Indonesian importer or authorized representative.
• No new overseas factory audit is normally needed, because the foreign body already audited you.
• Compliance firms report this registration can take up to about 30 working days once documents are complete.
• You receive a registration number to use for your product in Indonesia.

Recognition covers a long list of foreign bodies. One consultancy reported MRAs with 94 foreign halal certification bodies across 33 countries as of late 2025, while other guides cite different totals. Ask BPJPH or your consultant to confirm that your exact certifier, and your exact product scope, are covered.

Route 2: Full Indonesian halal certification

If you have no halal certificate, or your certifier is not recognized, you need a full Indonesian certification. This means:

1. Your Indonesian representative applies through SIHALAL and selects an accredited LPH.
2. The LPH reviews your documents, ingredients and suppliers.
3. The LPH audits your production site, which can mean an overseas audit of your factory.
4. The audit results go to the fatwa process for a halal ruling.
5. BPJPH issues the Indonesian halal certificate.

Consultancies estimate the full process often takes about 3 to 6 months, including document legalization and audit scheduling. Overseas audits also add travel costs. Fees vary by product, number of sites and LPH, so get written quotes.

Who Applies: Why You Need a Local Partner

In practice, foreign manufacturers usually do not apply on their own. Applications are typically filed by an Indonesian importer, distributor or authorized local representative. The same is true for BPOM registration, where an Indonesian entity holds the product registration.

This makes your choice of local partner very important. The company that holds your BPOM registration and halal filings has real control over your ability to sell. Before you sign:

• Confirm who will legally hold each registration.
• Agree in writing what happens to registrations if you change distributors.
• Check the partner's track record with BPOM and BPJPH filings.
• Make sure documents and certificates are shared with you, not just stored by them.

If you want help choosing and managing partners on the ground, our market entry service covers partner selection, registrations and launch as one project.

How Halal Fits With BPOM Registration

Many foreign brands confuse halal certification with BPOM registration. They are two separate approvals, and most products need both.

BPOM for food

BPOM is Indonesia's food and drug authority. Imported processed foods and drinks usually need a BPOM registration number that starts with "ML," held by the Indonesian importer. Service providers estimate food registration typically takes around 3 to 6 months after a complete dossier, depending on the product and BPOM's queue. You will usually need product formulas, label designs, a free sale certificate and GMP or HACCP evidence.

BPOM for cosmetics

Imported cosmetics need a BPOM notification submitted by an Indonesian entity. Consultancy Cekindo reports BPOM's evaluation can take about 14 working days for most cosmetics once the file is complete, and that notifications are generally valid for three years. Preparation of documents, labels and ingredient checks takes extra weeks.

Putting them together

A practical order of work looks like this:

1. Check every ingredient and supplier for halal status and Indonesian ingredient rules.
2. Confirm whether your current halal certifier is recognized by BPJPH.
3. Appoint your Indonesian importer or license holder.
4. Start BPOM registration and halal registration or certification in parallel where possible.
5. Update your labels with the BPOM number and the halal label once approved. Existing BPOM registrations may need a label variation filing after halal approval.

Labeling Rules: Halal and Non-Halal

Once certified, your packaging should show Indonesia's official halal label along with the details required for the product category. Labels must match what is registered with BPOM, so plan artwork changes carefully.

If your product is not halal, for example because it contains pork or alcohol ingredients, it can still be sold in Indonesia. BPJPH has stated that non-halal foreign products may be marketed if they carry a clear non-halal statement or marking that is easy to see and read. You cannot claim or suggest halal status if you do not have it.

Common labeling mistakes:

• Using your home country's halal logo without Indonesian registration.
• Changing a formula or supplier after certification without updating your filings.
• Printing packaging before BPOM and halal approvals are final.
• Putting the non-halal statement somewhere hard to find.

A Step-by-Step Plan for Foreign Brands

Here is the plan we would follow for a food or cosmetics brand entering Indonesia today.

1. Audit your product list. List every product, ingredient, supplier and factory. Flag anything with animal-derived, alcohol-based or unclear ingredients.
2. Check your certifier. If you already hold a halal certificate, confirm whether the issuing body is recognized by BPJPH and whether your product category is in scope.
3. Choose your route. Register your foreign certificate if possible. Otherwise, plan a full Indonesian certification with an LPH.
4. Appoint a local partner. Pick the importer or license holder who will file BPOM and halal applications, and agree on ownership of registrations.
5. Prepare documents. Expect certificates, ingredient lists, specifications, HS codes, process flows, and legalized or translated documents.
6. Run BPOM and halal in parallel. Coordinate timelines so labels can be finalized once.
7. Update labels and listings. Print compliant packaging and update marketplace listings with halal or non-halal information.
8. Maintain compliance. Keep certificates current, report changes, and track BPJPH announcements.

Marketing Your Halal Status

Once you are certified, halal status becomes a selling point. Indonesian shoppers often ask "halal, kak?" in chat before buying, so make it easy to see:

• Show the halal logo clearly in product photos on Shopee, Tokopedia and TikTok Shop.
• Add a short halal line to product descriptions and FAQs.
• Train your chat team and AI assistant to answer halal questions instantly. Our guide to WhatsApp business marketing in Indonesia explains how to set that up.
• Brief KOLs and creators so they mention halal status accurately.

If you plan to expand to neighboring markets, Malaysia has its own halal system run by JAKIM. Our guide on how to sell in Malaysia covers that market, and our Southeast Asia market entry guide puts both in context.

Mistakes That Delay Market Entry

• Waiting for the deadline. Full certification can take months. Starting late means empty shelves.
• Assuming any halal certificate works. Only certificates from bodies recognized by BPJPH can use the registration route.
• Letting the distributor own everything. If your partner holds every registration and you part ways, relaunching can take months.
• Changing suppliers quietly. A new ingredient source can break your halal status. Update filings first.
• Treating halal and BPOM as one process. They are separate approvals with separate timelines.

Get Your Products Ready for Indonesia

Halal certification, BPOM registration, local partners and labels all need to line up before your first shipment. Our team manages the full path as one accountable partner, from checking your certifier to launching your products on Indonesian marketplaces. Book a free 30-minute strategy call and we will map out the fastest compliant route for your brand.