Foreign Halal Certificates in Indonesia: Why Is Registration Still Required?

oleh | Sep 30, 2026 | Sertifikasi Halal

foreign halal certificate

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A halal certificate is a document demonstrating that a product complies with halal requirements based on certain standards. However, a halal certificate issued in one country does not automatically grant the right to distribute the product in another country.

For imported products, Indonesia has its own mechanism for recognizing foreign halal certificates. Why do products that are already halal-certified in their country of origin still need to be registered before being distributed in Indonesia? Here is the explanation.

 

Already Halal-Certified in the Country of Origin: Why Must the Certificate Still Be Registered in Indonesia? 

Indonesia requires halal certification for products that enter, circulate, and are traded within its territory. This requirement applies to both domestic and imported products that fall within the mandatory halal certification categories.

For imported products, a specific mechanism applies to products that have obtained halal certificates from Foreign Halal Institutions (Lembaga Halal Luar Negeri or “LHLN”). Such certificates may be recognized without requiring business actors to undergo halal certification again in Indonesia.

However, this recognition is subject to certain requirements. Article 47 paragraph (2) of Law No. 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance (“Halal Product Assurance Law”) provides that a foreign halal certificate does not need to be submitted for a new halal certification application as long as it was issued by an LHLN that has entered into a mutual recognition arrangement with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal or “BPJPH”).

This means that the mechanism does not mean that a foreign halal certificate automatically applies in Indonesia. A recognized certificate must still be registered with BPJPH before the product is distributed in Indonesia.

BPJPH reaffirmed this point in 2026. BPJPH stated that a mutual recognition arrangement (“MRA”) does not eliminate Indonesia’s halal requirements.

Instead, an MRA provides procedural convenience because products whose halal certificates were issued by recognized LHLNs do not need to undergo halal recertification. Business actors only need to complete the foreign halal certificate registration process in accordance with the applicable requirements.

Accordingly, there is an important distinction between certificate recognition and certificate registration. Recognition concerns the acceptance of a certificate issued by an LHLN, while registration is the administrative process that allows the certificate to be used to fulfill halal requirements in Indonesia.

This requirement is increasingly relevant ahead of the implementation of Mandatory Halal Certification in October 2026. BPJPH has stated that the requirement also covers foreign products entering and circulating in Indonesia.

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Foreign Halal Certificate Recognized but Not Registered: What Are the Risks for Importers? 

For importers, holding a halal certificate from the country of origin is not sufficient if the product is to be distributed in Indonesia. Importers must ensure that the LHLN issuing the certificate has entered into a mutual recognition arrangement with BPJPH.

In addition, importers must ensure that the certificate has been registered before the product is distributed. Article 152 paragraph (1) of Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 on the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance (“GR 42/2024”) provides that BPJPH registers foreign halal certificates that meet the applicable requirements.

More specifically, Decree of the Head of BPJPH No. 90 of 2023 on Procedures for Foreign Halal Certificate Registration Services (“BPJPH Decree 90/2023”) provides that new registration or renewal applications for Foreign Halal Certificate Registration (Sertifikat Halal Luar Negeri or “SHLN”) must be submitted by the applicant through an importer and/or official representative in Indonesia to BPJPH. Applications must be submitted in writing through the integrated electronic system, SiHalal.

If the required documents are prepared in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by an English translation. The translation must be prepared by a sworn translator in accordance with the applicable requirements.

These provisions show that the registration process is not merely about having a halal certificate. Importers must also ensure the completeness, conformity, and format of the documents before submitting the application to BPJPH.

The registration then serves as the basis for fulfilling the product’s halal certification requirements. Importers or official representatives that obtain registration must also display the registration number adjacent to the Halal Label on the product.

This mechanism demonstrates that registration is more than an administrative formality. Registration serves as an instrument to establish a clear connection between the foreign halal certificate, the imported product, the importer, and regulatory oversight in Indonesia.

Decree of the Head of BPJPH No. 221 of 2025 on Procedures for Foreign Halal Certificate Registration (“BPJPH Decree 221/2025”) subsequently established procedures for registering foreign halal certificates. These procedures apply to importers or official representatives of foreign business actors submitting registration applications to BPJPH.

The decree also regulates the consequences of failing to fulfill the registration requirement. Violations may result in a written warning, administrative fines, revocation of SHLN registration, and/or withdrawal of goods from circulation.

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These risks require attention because non-compliance can directly affect product distribution activities. Products that already have foreign halal certificates may still face compliance issues if their registration has not been completed.

In addition to registration requirements, importers must also monitor the validity period of their certificates. Article 154 of GR 42/2024 provides that the validity period of the registration follows the validity period of the halal certificate issued by the LHLN.

Therefore, monitoring the validity of halal certificates and their registration should form part of an importer’s compliance system. Renewals should be prepared before the validity period expires to prevent disruption to the continued distribution of products.

BPJPH has emphasized that the implementation of Mandatory Halal Certification in October 2026 applies to various categories of imported products. Oversight has also been strengthened ahead of the implementation of this requirement on October 18, 2026.

 

Conclusion

A halal certificate issued in the country of origin may be recognized in Indonesia if it was issued by an LHLN that has entered into a mutual recognition arrangement with BPJPH. However, such recognition does not eliminate the registration requirement before the product is distributed in Indonesia.

For importers, compliance does not end with holding a foreign halal certificate. The status of the LHLN, certificate registration, display of the registration number, validity monitoring, and document updates must be continuously maintained.***

Make sure your imported products are not only halal-certified but also comply with all registration and distribution requirements in Indonesia.

Get professional assistance from SIP-R Consultant for your imported product halal compliance needs.

 

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