Indonesia, Malaysia Discuss Regional Halal Standard Initiative

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and Malaysia are stepping up efforts to strengthen Southeast Asia’s halal industry through discussions on a possible regional halal standard aimed at improving cooperation, testing harmonization, and trade certainty.

The initiative was discussed during a recent meeting in Jakarta between Head of Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Ahmad Haikal Hasan, and Religious Affairs First Secretary at the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta Mohd Izwan Sharif.

“The meeting discussed efforts to strengthen regional halal cooperation, including the idea of a regional halal standard between Indonesia and Malaysia to reinforce the regional halal ecosystem,” Haikal said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Haikal stressed the importance of strengthening halal ecosystem cooperation across the region, including harmonizing halal laboratory standards between Indonesia and Malaysia.

The discussions particularly focused on aligning methods for testing porcine content in food products, which officials said is important to prevent differing test results that could affect the halal industry and trade.

The meeting also explored the possibility of involving other countries in the region, including Australia and New Zealand, in broader efforts to strengthen the regional halal ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Mohd Izwan Sharif said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is scheduled to visit Jakarta on Friday, May 22.

Sharif added that Malaysian authorities had received a diplomatic note regarding a planned meeting between Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and BPJPH officials during the visit.

He also expressed hope that the meeting agenda could be finalized and implemented in the near future. ***