From October 17, the mandatory compliance, under Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance regime, will apply to imported food and beverages, cosmetics, traditional medicines, health supplements and certain medical devices.
Foreign goods entering Indonesia have to comply with these certification and labelling requirements.
Under this, mandatory compliance will apply to imported food and beverages, cosmetics, traditional medicines, health supplements and certain medical devices.
Obtaining such certificates involves cost.
The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that Indian exporters of food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medical devices and chemicals have to prepare for Indonesia’s mandatory halal-certification requirements.
The change in the regime is important for India because they cover major exports such as frozen boneless buffalo meat, processed foods, agricultural products, active pharmaceutical ingredients, cosmetics and chemicals.Failure to complete certification or pre-shipment verification could lead to customs delays, border rejection or product recalls, GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said.
He explained that Indian exporters can no longer depend on self-declarations and they would have to obtain certification through accredited Halal Certification Bodies having Mutual Recognition Agreements with BPJPH (Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency) and ensure that the required information is registered on Indonesia’s SIHALAL portal.
Further, manufacturers would also have to establish full traceability for raw materials, solvents, emulsifiers and other inputs.
“They (manufacturers) should prevent contamination during production, storage and transportation and introduce pre-shipment audit procedures in India,” he said, adding that products containing ingredients such as certain gelatin capsules or alcohol-based formulations will require special attention.
He suggested that Indian companies should begin compliance preparations immediately, as early certification, supply-chain checks and coordination with recognised inspection bodies will be essential to avoid disruption after the October 17 deadline.
A leather industry expert also said that the requirement would increase compliance costs for domestic exporters.
India’s exports to Indonesia dipped 16.52 per cent to USD 4.49 billion in 2025-26 from USD 5.38 billion in 2024-25. Imports also contracted by about 11 per cent to USD 20.3 billion in the last fiscal from USD 22.8 billion in 2024-25.
Halal certification is an official document issued by an authorised Islamic body confirming that a product or service complies with Islamic dietary and Shariah requirements. The certification assures Muslim consumers that a product is suitable for consumption or use in accordance with their religious beliefs.