Indonesia Ensures Halal Certification for US Products

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, reaffirmed that products from the United States entering Indonesia are still required to comply with halal certification procedures in accordance with prevailing national regulations.

In a written statement received in Jakarta on Sunday, 22 February 2026, Teddy dismissed claims suggesting that US products could enter the Indonesian market without halal certification.

“Some say that US products are entering Indonesia without halal certification? Simply put: that is not true,” he stated.

He underscored that any product falling under the mandatory halal category must fully comply with Indonesia’s legal framework. Such products must carry a halal label, whether issued by a recognized halal certification body in the United States or in Indonesia.

According to him, recognized halal certification bodies in the US include Halal Transactions of Omaha (HTO) and Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). In Indonesia, halal certification is administered by the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH). In addition, cosmetic products and medical devices must still obtain distribution permits from the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) before being marketed domestically.

Teddy further noted that Indonesia and the United States have established a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on halal certification. The agreement provides standardized mutual recognition of halal certificates within the framework of national regulations.

Furthermore, the government reiterated that Indonesia–US trade cooperation does not eliminate the obligation to comply with national standards, including halal requirements and consumer protection regulations. The public is urged not to be influenced by misinformation and to seek information only from official sources.