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Indonesia postpones mandatory halal certification deadline

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-25 15:18 UTC → 2026-10-26 14:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Indonesian government has officially postponed the mandatory halal certification deadline from October 18, 2026, to October 17, 2028. Announced by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the delay follows directives from President Prabowo Subianto to ensure MSME sustainability and allow businesses more time to adapt to the national halal ecosystem. Prior to the postponement, officials had maintained that the deadline would proceed without delay. In early October 2026, BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan stated that the government was drafting special provisions for micro and small enterprises (UMK), imported products, and raw materials to ensure an orderly implementation. Despite these assurances, the Indonesian Cosmetics Association (Perkosmi) continued to warn of potential ‘mass product returns, stock losses, and supply chain disruptions’ due to the complexity of certifying numerous imported raw materials. The final extension applies to food, beverages, slaughter products, and services, as well as cosmetics, medicines, and chemical products. Minister of MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman emphasized that the delay considers the financial burden and readiness of small enterprises, though certification remains a legal obligation under Law Number 33 of 2014. Recent reports indicate that the government’s free certification program, Sehati, has struggled to meet its target of 1.35 million certified MSMEs due to difficulties in preparing necessary documentation. In response to these challenges, private entities such as PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) have begun conducting workshops in regions like Cibubur and Pontianak to provide free halal certification assistance and digital banking services. The decision has drawn criticism from the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), which expressed regret, arguing that the state should prioritize the rights of Muslim citizens to receive guaranteed halal products. Additionally, industry observers have raised concerns regarding policy consistency and whether repeated shifts in the timeline will impact Indonesia’s ambitions to become a global leader in the halal industry.

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