Indonesia’s halal law becomes mandatory for imported food and beverages
Enforcement and market supervision begin 18 October 2026. NHASA is one of only 13 Australian certification bodies approved by BPJPH.
If you export food or beverages to Indonesia, halal certification stops being optional on 17 October 2026.
NHASA is one of only 13 Australian halal certification bodies approved by BPJPH, Indonesia’s halal authority. We are approved for food, beverages and slaughtering, and we hold an approved arrangement with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry as an Approved Islamic Organisation.
If your product needs to clear Indonesian customs after October, the time to start is now.
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What changes on 17 October 2026
Indonesia’s halal law (Law 33/2014), implemented through Government Regulation 42/2024, phases in mandatory halal certification by product category. The next phase is the one that affects Australian exporters.
From 17 October 2026, halal certification becomes mandatory for imported:
- Food and beverages, including raw ingredients, additives and supplementary materials
- Traditional medicines, health supplements and quasi-medicines
- Cosmetics
- Chemical products, biological products and genetically modified products
- Wearable clothing, household appliances and office products
- Class A medical devices
Later phases follow: over-the-counter medicines and Class B medical devices from 17 October 2029, prescription medicines and Class C devices from 2034, and Class D devices from 2039.
This deadline has already been extended once, by two years. No further extension has been announced.
What NHASA is approved to certify for Indonesia
BPJPH grants recognition by product category. We want to be precise about ours, because getting this wrong costs you a shipment.
NHASA is BPJPH-approved for
- Food
- Beverages
- Slaughtering
If your Indonesia-bound product falls outside these categories — cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or standalone storage, packaging and logistics scopes — we will tell you, and point you to an Australian body that holds the right BPJPH scope. We would rather do that than take on an application we cannot complete.
We also certify cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, packaging and logistics for the Australian domestic market and other export markets. Those are separate services.
How the process works
- 1
Confirm scope and quote
We check your products sit within our BPJPH-approved categories, then quote you.
- 2
Application and documentation
Ingredient declarations, supplier halal certificates, process flows and your halal assurance system.
- 3
Appoint a Halal Supervisor
Government Regulation 42/2024 requires a Halal Supervisor who is Muslim. We explain the role and the evidence Indonesia expects.
- 4
Supply chain segregation
Halal and non-halal must be separated across production, processing, storage and transport, including tools and machinery. This usually takes longest.
- 5
Audit
We audit your site against the requirements and tell you exactly what needs to change.
- 6
Certificate issued
NHASA issues your halal certificate.
- 7
Registration in Indonesia
Your Indonesian importer registers the certificate with BPJPH through the SHLN pathway.
Registration takes up to 30 working days and the Indonesian government fee is IDR 800,000, roughly AUD 80, per certificate. Only an Indonesian importer or local representative can lodge it — you cannot file it yourself from Australia. Line your importer up now.
Two things that got easier
- Apostille and consular legalisation are no longer required. Government Regulation 42/2024 removed that step. If your freight forwarder still tells you to legalise the certificate, they are working from the old rules.
- Australia now has a government-to-government arrangement with BPJPH. Signed in July 2026, it recognises the Australian Government Authorised Halal Program and allows the Indonesian halal label to be printed, labelled or stickered on product.
Why the timeline is tighter than it looks
Working backwards from 17 October:
- SHLN registration alone can take 30 working days, roughly six weeks
- Supply chain segregation often needs physical or procedural changes
- Your Indonesian importer has to be engaged and ready to lodge
- Audits need scheduling
If you have not started, start this week.
Are you exempt?
Two exemptions exist. Products that are haram by nature are not certified, but must carry mandatory non-halal labelling. And the Halal Positive List covers raw materials that are inherently halal and do not require certification.
Scope by tariff code is set out in BPJPH Head Decision 307/2025. If you are unsure whether your product is captured, send us your HS codes and we will tell you.
Why NHASA
- One of 13 Australian certification bodies approved by BPJPH — most Australian certifiers are not
- Approved Islamic Organisation with the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, under the Australian Government Authorised Halal Program, for halal red meat export
- Accredited to OIC/SMIIC and ISO/IEC 17065 by EGAC, an IHAF member accreditation body
- Also recognised for red meat export to Singapore
- Melbourne based, auditing Australia-wide
Frequently asked questions
Do I need halal certification if my product isn’t meat?
Yes. From 17 October 2026 the requirement covers food and beverages generally, including ingredients and additives, not just meat.
Can I use my existing halal certificate?
Only if it was issued by a certification body BPJPH recognises, within the product category BPJPH approved them for. Send us your certificate and we will check.
How long does certification take?
It depends on how ready your documentation and supply chain segregation are. Talk to us early — the audit is rarely the bottleneck.
How much does it cost?
Certification is quoted on your product range, sites and complexity. The Indonesian government registration fee is separate: IDR 800,000, about AUD 80, per certificate.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Enforcement and market supervision begin 18 October 2026. Non-compliant imported product is at risk at the border and in market.
Do I need someone in Indonesia?
Yes, for registration. Only an Indonesian importer or local representative can lodge the certificate through SHLN.
Start your Indonesia application
Tell us what you export and where it goes. We will confirm whether it sits within our BPJPH-approved scope and come back with a quote.
Or call 03 9117 6355