On February 4, 2025, Indonesia submitted Notice G/TBT/N/IDN/175, announcing the implementation procedures for overseas halal certificate registration services. This regulation will come into effect from the date of its official issuance.
According to Regulation No. 33 of 2014 on the Guarantee of Halal Products, foreign Halal products imported into Indonesia must comply with the same regulations as domestic products. However, if these halal products are certified by foreign halal certification bodies that have established a halal certificate mutual recognition mechanism with the Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), there is no need to obtain a halal certificate separately. In addition, the halal certificate must be registered with BPJPH before the product is sold in Indonesia.
Interpretation of the Notice
This regulation outlines the registration procedures for foreign halal certification services.
A. Requirement
1. New/extended foreign halal certificate registration applications must be submitted in writing by the applicant through the importer and/or official representative in Indonesia to the Indonesian Halal Product Certification Authority (BPJPH) via an electronic system, using the integrated Halal Information System (SIHALAL) application.
2. The application must be accompanied by the following documents:
a. Application for Registration of Halal Certificate Abroad;
b. The designated document (i.e. the agreement document of the country of origin company) must include authorization clauses, clarifying the rights/authorities of the applicant as the designated company to apply for foreign halal certificate registration;
c. The commercial license number (NIB) of the importer and/or official representative in Indonesia;
d. A copy of the foreign Halal certificate, certified by Indonesian overseas institutions, intended for import into the Indonesian customs territory, must be signed and authenticated by an authorized official;
e. The cooperation agreement document for mutual recognition of halal certificates between foreign halal institutions and BPJPH (Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Cooperation/Mutual Recognition Agreement);
f. List of goods to be imported into Indonesia (with coordinated system codes attached);
g. Declaration of Document Authenticity.
3.If the application documents are in a non English language, a translated English version must be attached.
4. The registration of foreign halal certificates must be extended and the required documents submitted by the applicant at least 3 (three) months before the expiration of the certificate.
B. Service Process
The registration service process for foreign halal certificates includes the following steps:
a. Submit an application for registration of a foreign halal certificate;
b. Check the integrity and validity of the files;
c. Pay the registration fee for foreign halal certificates;
d. Issuance of foreign halal certificate registration number.
The deadline for the evaluation of this notice is April 3, 2025, and the effective date is yet to be determined.
