Indonesia has extended comment periods for halal certification standards in food and beverages, requiring all products to meet harmonized codification rules under specific HS codes.
Indonesia Expands Halal Certification Rules for Food and Drinks
Importers must ensure products match new HS code requirements.
What changed
Halal certification required for all food and beverage products under specified HS codes.
Harmonized codification system established to classify products requiring halal certification.
Draft decrees and addenda formalize the new regulatory framework.
Extended comment period allows stakeholders more time for feedback on proposed standards.
Who it affects
Food and beverage importers must ensure their products have halal certification if they fall under the specified HS codes.
Foreign manufacturers need to obtain halal certification for products destined for the Indonesian market.
Customs brokers must verify halal certification compliance for affected HS codes during clearance.
Compliance Answer: Indonesia’s Extended Comment Period for Halal Certification Standards in Food and Beverages
Indonesia has extended the public comment period for the Draft Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs Regarding Establishment of Harmonized System (HS) Codification of Types of Products that are Required to be Halal Certified in Food and Beverages to 16 January 20261. This draft establishes a legally binding reference for mandatory halal certification based on specific HS codes, applicable to food, beverages, food additives, cosmetics, and natural medicine products2. The extension provides stakeholders additional time to submit feedback before the final measure enters into force.
Regulation Analysis
1. Scope of Mandatory Halal Certification
The draft decree defines the HS codes for products subject to mandatory halal certification in Indonesia, including:
- Food and beverages (primary focus of the draft)2.
- Food additives2.
- Cosmetics and natural medicine products (included in the HS codification but not the primary subject of the current comment period)2.
The HS codes serve as a reference for:
- Importers/official representatives applying for foreign halal certificate registration2.
- Identifying product categories subject to mandatory halal certification when imported, circulated, or traded in Indonesia2.
- Applying for halal certification with the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) or recognized Foreign Halal Certification Bodies2.
2. Key Deadlines and Process
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Deadline/Threshold | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs1, 2 | Submission of comments on HS codification for halal-certified products | 16 January 2026, 16:00 Jakarta Time (UTC+7) | Indonesia WTO TBT Enquiry Point |
| Final Decree (upon entry into force)2 | Compliance with HS-based halal certification requirements for listed products | Not specified (effective upon publication) | BPJPH / Ministry of Religious Affairs |
3. Comment Submission Process
- Stakeholders (WTO Members, importers, industry representatives) must submit comments to the Indonesia WTO TBT Enquiry Point by the extended deadline1.
- Comments submitted before the deadline will be responded to by Indonesian authorities1.
- The final measure will become legally binding upon entry into force, with no specified adoption or publication date yet1, 2.
4. Legal Implications
- The decree will replace or supplement existing halal certification rules by introducing a harmonized HS-based system2.
- Non-compliance with the final HS codification may result in denial of market access for uncertified products in the specified categories2.
Summary Answer
Indonesia has extended the comment period for its Draft Decree on HS Codification for Halal-Certified Food and Beverages to 16 January 2026, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed HS-based classification system1. The decree will mandate halal certification for products under specific HS codes, including food, beverages, additives, cosmetics, and natural medicines, with compliance enforced by the BPJPH2. Upon finalization, the measure will serve as a legally binding reference for importers, traders, and certification bodies2. No adoption or enforcement date has been specified yet1, 2.
Sources
- ↩ Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – Indonesia – Foods and beverages products that are required to be halal certified – Addendum — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN23/IDN160A3.pdf&Open=True
- ↩ Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – Indonesia – Foods and beverages products that are required to be halal certified – Addendum — SS / directdoc https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN23/IDN160A2.pdf&Open=True