Indonesia’s halal certification timeline has been revised again. Government Regulation No. 40 of 2026, issued by the Indonesian government, amends Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 and took effect on 14 October 2026. This revision is not a blanket relaxation; instead, it introduces differentiated arrangements based on enterprise size and product category. For Chinese companies planning to enter the Indonesian market, the key is not merely noting the “two-year extension”, but identifying which transition period applies to their products.
I. Three Sets of Adjustments for Different Subjects
First, the halal certification transition period for food, beverages, slaughter products and slaughtering services from micro and small enterprises is extended from 17 October 2026 to 17 October 2028. The same products and services from medium and large enterprises are excluded from this extension, with their transition deadline remaining 17 October 2024, meaning mandatory halal certification requirements are already in force for them.
Second, selected non-food products also receive a two-year grace period, with their transition period extended to 17 October 2028. These include herbal products, quasi-pharmaceuticals, health supplements, cosmetics, chemical products, genetically engineered products, selected apparel, household and office supplies, as well as Class A medical devices. Requirements for other products remain unchanged: over-the-counter medicines and Class B medical devices stay at 17 October 2029; prescription medicines (excluding psychotropic drugs) and Class C medical devices stay at 17 October 2034.
Third, the mandatory halal certification requirement for imported food, beverages, slaughter products and slaughtering services will take effect on 18 October 2028, subject to the completion of halal certificate mutual recognition. Related supporting changes include: removal of the previous procedure where the minister determined the implementation schedule following coordination among relevant ministries and agencies; imported goods shall still comply with Indonesia’s customs and trade laws and regulations; the clause stating that conformity assurance for foreign halal products would be governed by separate regulations has been deleted, and corresponding implementing rules will be revised accordingly.
II. Rationale for the Extension: Maturity of the Halal Ecosystem and Mutual Recognition Progress
The Indonesian government stated that the revised deadlines take into account the maturity of the halal certification ecosystem, feedback from businesses and industry stakeholders, and areas of the framework that still require refinement. The aim is to give enterprises sufficient time to complete certification in an orderly manner. For imported goods, the ongoing rollout of foreign halal certificate mutual recognition is a key reason for deferring the mandatory requirement for imported food, beverages and slaughter-related products and services to 18 October 2028.
III. Action Guidance for Overseas-Bound Enterprises
- Do not interpret the extension as an exemption from certification. Medium and large food and beverage enterprises are still bound by the existing mandatory rules; only micro and small enterprises get the extra preparation window.
- Maintain certification records by product category, and separate the timelines for cosmetics, health supplements and Class A medical devices from those for Class B/C medical devices, prescription medicines and other goods.
- Importers and overseas manufacturers shall keep track of Indonesia’s recognition framework for offshore halal certificates and its implementing provisions, and prepare documentation such as supply chain traceability and certificate validity in advance.
- Monitor the progress of mutual recognition. Although the mandate for imported food and beverages is deferred to 18 October 2028, it will not come into force unconditionally.
Overall, this revision opens up a compliance preparation window for certain sectors, yet requirements vary significantly across enterprise sizes and product lines. Companies expanding overseas should verify their product classification and certification roadmap as early as possible, to avoid disruptions to their Indonesia market strategy caused by misjudging the timeline.
