Indonesia Extends Mandatory Halal Certification Deadlines

On October 14, 2026, Indonesia issued Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026, amending Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 on the Implementation of the Halal Product Assurance System. The regulation extends mandatory halal certification transition periods across several product categories, giving manufacturers and importers additional time to comply.

Categories previously scheduled to complete their transition periods by October 17, 2026, now have deadlines ranging from October 17, 2028, to October 17, 2034, depending on the product category.

Regulatory Context: Foreign Halal Certification in Indonesia

Under Indonesia’s legal framework, foreign businesses must eventually achieve compliance through one of two primary pathways.

• Foreign Halal Certificate Registration (SHLN): A streamlined process for products certified by an overseas body holding an active Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH).
• Regular Halal Certification: The direct local route for products that do not qualify for SHLN registration — typically because the issuing foreign certifying body lacks an active MRA.

The SHLN pathway allows companies to register existing foreign halal certificates through the SIHALAL portal without full local recertification, whereas the Regular Halal Certification pathway requires foreign manufacturers to undergo a comprehensive local evaluation by an Indonesian Halal Inspection Body (LPH), including facility audits, ingredient traceability assessments, and regulatory approval.

Key Drivers Behind Indonesia’s Halal Certification Extension

The Halal Certification deadline extension reflects the readiness of Indonesia’s halal certification ecosystem and direct feedback from key industry stakeholders.

The primary drivers include:

• Complex Global Supply Chains: Tracing ingredient origins, auditing international manufacturing processes, and Securing overseas documentation — especially for multi-ingredient products like cosmetics and health supplements — demands extensive cross-border coordination.
• Limited Foreign Halal Recognition: Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) remain narrow; as of October 2026, only one UAE certification body is recognized (strictly for food and beverages), forcing imported cosmetics and perfumes down a costlier, direct certification path.
• System Capacity Bottlenecks: Expanding mandatory compliance across broad market sectors stretches institutional capacity and technical resources, requiring extra ramp-up time for both regulatory bodies and private enterprise.

Updated Halal Certification Compliance Timelines

Under Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026, the updated transition deadlines are structured as follows:

October 17, 2028

• Traditional medicines, quasi-drugs, and health supplements
• Cosmetics, chemical products, and genetically engineered products
• Wearables, including apparel, headwear, and accessories
• Household supplies, religious items, and stationery
• Risk Class A medical devices

October 17, 2029

• Over-the-counter (OTC) and limited OTC drugs
• Risk Class B medical devices

October 17, 2034

• Prescription drugs, excluding psychotropics
• Risk Class C medical devices

Special Halal Certification Exemption for Healthcare Products

Medicinal products, biological products, and medical devices whose raw materials or processes are not yet halal may continue circulating, provided the non-halal or unverified origin of the materials is clearly disclosed. This allowance remains valid until viable halal alternatives become commercially available.

Regulatory Implications & Next Steps

While the extended timeline offers welcome relief, standard market authorizations remain strictly enforced. Products governed by Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) or the Ministry of Health must still secure standard product registrations and marketing permits prior to distribution.

Eligible goods may continue to be imported and sold without halal certification during their respective transition windows. However, once a category deadline passes, BPJPH will enforce compliance through post-market surveillance. Non-compliant businesses risk administrative warnings, fines, product recalls, or import restrictions.

Rather than treating the regulation as a deferral, manufacturers and importers should use this window to actively map out their compliance strategies:

• Audit Supply Chains Early: Review ingredient records, manufacturing workflows, and supplier declarations to identify compliance gaps before local inspections occur.
• Verify MRA Eligibility: Confirm whether existing foreign certificates qualify for streamlined SHLN registration or if a full local audit will be necessary.
• Coordinate with Local Partners: Work closely with Indonesian distributors and importers to divide regulatory tasks, clear documentation bottlenecks, and schedule facility evaluations well ahead of enforcement dates.

Final Thoughts: Preparing for Indonesia’s Halal Certification Requirements

While Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026 offers welcome breathing room, mandatory compliance remains an inevitable milestone for any brand committed to long-term success in Indonesia.

Navigating this landscape, however, presents significant friction, from untangling multi-layered global supply chains and verifying foreign ingredients to decoding evolving regulatory pathways. With a local presence in Indonesia, Cisema eliminates this complexity by delivering targeted compliance roadmaps, auditing cross-border documentation, and managing local agency filings from start to finish.

For expert support in navigating halal compliance and market access in Indonesia, contact Cisema today.

Further Information

Explore Cisema’s services for medical device registration in Indonesia.

Learn more about Cisema’s services for cosmetic registration in Indonesia.

Read more about Halal compliance in Indonesia:

• Key Requirements for Indonesia Halal Medical Devices: What Manufacturers & Importers Need to Know
• Is a Foreign Halal Certificate Valid in Indonesia? Requirements Explained
• Understanding Indonesia Halal Cosmetic Certification Requirements
• Indonesia Mandates Pre-Shipment Halal Verification for Imported Products
• What Is Indonesia Halal Certification for Health Supplements? What Manufacturers & Importers Need to Know
• How the Indonesia Halal Certification Process Works (SIHALAL): A Guide to the SHLN & Regular Certification Pathways

References

Decree of the Head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency Number 221 of 2025 concerning Procedures for the Registration of Foreign Halal Certificates.

Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance.

Government Regulation Number 40 of 2026 concerning Amendments to Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance.