Thailand Urged to Prepare for Indonesia's Strict Halal Rules
Indonesia enforces mandatory halal certification for food, cosmetics, and medicines starting October 18, 2025, requiring Thai exporters to obtain valid halal certificates and undergo pre-shipment inspections before entering the market.
Indonesia will enforce comprehensive halal certification requirements beginning October 18, 2025, covering food and beverages, cosmetics, medicines, dietary supplements, chemicals, raw materials, and food additives. Products subject to mandatory halal rules must strictly comply with Indonesia's halal standards. Thai exporters sending goods to Indonesia are urged to study the requirements and prepare immediately to ensure business continuity.
Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency, BPJPH, has issued three new regulations in 2025 with direct impact on exporters. Regulation 2/2025 sets administrative penalties for violations of the Halal Product Assurance System, ranging from written warnings and fines to product recall and suspension or revocation of halal certification. Regulation 3/2025 allows non-halal products to be sold in Indonesia but requires clear labeling of "NON-HALAL" and "MENGANDUNG BABI" (contains pork) when applicable, to inform consumers.
Regulation 4/2025 sets standards for imported halal products, directly affecting Thai exporters. It requires imported goods to have valid and verifiable halal certificates and must pass pre-shipment verification by a halal inspection agency appointed by BPJPH. Import documents must match product details, and businesses must properly control storage and transport to prevent contamination.
Sunanta Kangwalkulgij, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion, said the department and its office in Jakarta are closely monitoring progress and impact, and have held three seminars for Thai businesses on Indonesia's halal requirements in both online and offline formats. An additional online seminar is being arranged with BPJPH representatives to provide direct information and allow Thai exporters to ask questions about the new requirements.
