Melbourne - Indonesia and Australia hold bilateral talks aimed at strengthening cooperation in the import and export of halal products between the two countries. On July 10, 2025, the Halal Product Assurance Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BPJPH RI) held bilateral talks with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Melbourne, Australia. Ahmad Haikal Hasan, head of the Halal Product Protection Agency of the Republic of Indonesia, and Anna Somerville, Assistant Secretary General of the Agriculture and Non Tariff Barriers Division of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), attended the meeting.
This meeting is of great significance for further strengthening the strategic partnership between Indonesia and Australia through collaborative cooperation in the fields of industry and halal product trade, "said Ahmad Haikal Hasan, Director of the Indonesian Halal Product Certification Authority (BPJPH), in Melbourne on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
In this bilateral meeting, Ahmed Hekar Hassan also pointed out that there is an urgent need for 650000 tons of halal meat annually to meet the nutritional needs of school children, and supports President Prabowo Subianto's "Free Meal Plan" (MBG).
Currently, Australia only supplies about 140000 tons of halal meat annually. Therefore, from this supply-demand gap, there is enormous potential for a significant increase in trade volume, especially with the support of slaughterhouses (RPH) in Australia that meet halal standards and have been certified by the Australian Overseas Halal Organization (LHLN).
Ahmed Haikar Hassan, Director of the Indonesian Halal Product Certification Agency, also emphasized that Halal certification is not only crucial for slaughtered meat products, but also for other products such as vitamins, drugs, cosmetics, and skincare products, especially as the Halal Certification obligation is about to be fully implemented on October 18, 2026.
Halal certification is a symbol of product quality, cleanliness, and health, while also reflecting the level of animal welfare during the slaughter process, which is consistent with the global standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). ”Ahmed Haikar Hassan further stated.
Halal certification is not an obstacle to industrial and trade activities, but rather a widely adopted standard globally, reflecting the high quality of products, "he added.
In this formal meeting, the Australian government reiterated its commitment to supporting Indonesia's food security. They called on the Indonesian government to accelerate the licensing approval process for nine Australian slaughterhouses and nine Australian dairy processing plants, so that these companies can supply more nutritious food to Indonesia and support the Indonesian government's various plans.
In addition, an important issue discussed by both parties is the proposal to use a unified halal logo/label on Australian products entering the Indonesian market. This move is expected to simplify the customs inspection process and enhance consumer confidence. Despite the complexity of market preferences in various countries, the Australian side has regarded this suggestion as a key consideration for the future.
In addition, the Indonesian Halal Product Certification Authority emphasizes the need to regulate overseas halal institutions (LHLN) that have been recognized in Australia to maintain standards and prevent unfair competition. Currently, a total of 12 Australian LHLNs have been recognized by BPJPH.
At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue deepening cooperation to support sustainable trade and jointly address future challenges in halal trade technology.
