DITP urges Thai exporters to prepare for Indonesia’s halal rules
Thai exporters are urged to prepare for Indonesia’s mandatory halal requirements from Sunday (October 18, 2026), including food, cosmetics, medicines and chemicals.
- Indonesia will begin enforcing mandatory halal requirements from October 18, 2026, for a wide range of products including food, beverages, cosmetics, and medicines.
- Thai exporters must ensure their goods have valid, verifiable halal certificates, undergo pre-shipment verification, and meet specific labeling rules for both halal and non-halal products.
- Failure to comply with the new regulations can result in penalties ranging from administrative fines and product recalls to the suspension or revocation of halal certificates.
- The DITP is assisting Thai businesses by holding informational seminars and is working to renew a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on halal certification with Indonesia to ease compliance.
Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, director-general of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce, said Indonesia would begin enforcing halal requirements from October 18, 2026.
The measures cover a range of goods and products, including food and beverages, cosmetics, medicines, dietary supplements, chemical products, raw materials and food additives.
Goods covered by the mandatory halal requirements will have to comply strictly with Indonesia’s halal standards.
She therefore urged Thai businesses exporting to Indonesia to study the details and prepare promptly so they can continue operating and exporting without interruption.
The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) has issued three new regulations in 2026.
BPJPH Regulation No. 2/2026 sets administrative penalties for breaches of requirements under the Halal Product Assurance System (JPH), ranging from written warnings and administrative fines to product recalls and the suspension or revocation of halal certificates.
BPJPH Regulation No. 3/2026 allows non-halal products to be sold in Indonesia, but requires them to display the words “NON-HALAL” clearly.
Products containing pork ingredients must bear the words “MENGANDUNG BABI” so that consumers are clearly informed.
BPJPH Regulation No. 4/2026 sets criteria for halal products from abroad, requiring imported goods to carry valid and verifiable halal certificates.
They must also undergo pre-shipment verification by a Halal Inspection Agency (LPH) designated by BPJPH.
Import documents must correspond to the products, while businesses must properly control storage and transport to prevent contamination.
Sunanta added that the department, through the Thai Trade Center in Jakarta, has been closely monitoring developments and the impact of the requirements.
It has already held three seminars, both online and in person, to brief the Thai private sector on Indonesia’s halal requirements and is coordinating further online seminars.
The department plans to invite representatives from BPJPH to provide information directly to Thai businesses, helping them understand the criteria and compliance procedures and giving them an opportunity to raise relevant questions.
It has also informed relevant agencies of the regulations so that they can continue disseminating information and helping the Thai private sector prepare.
The Thai Trade Center in Jakarta, together with the Office of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, is scheduled to meet BPJPH on September 15 to follow up on progress in renewing the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on halal certification between Thailand and Indonesia.
The talks will also cover ways to facilitate Thai businesses’ compliance with the new requirements and reduce trade barriers.
“Indonesia is an important market with potential for Thai products, particularly food and beverages as well as various consumer goods. Thai businesses should therefore pay close attention to this change in halal requirements and prepare in advance in terms of halal certification, labelling and supporting product documents, as well as storage and transport, so that they can export goods to the Indonesian market smoothly and continuously,” Sunanta said.
