Ever since Halal law 33/2014 came into force, the landscape of Halal certification in Indonesia has been changing, with subsequent additions and changes to the original law :

• Act 33/2014 - Halal Product Assurance
• PP 31/2019 - Implementation of 33/2014
• Act 11/2020 - Omnibus Law, including Halal requirements
• Mora decree 464/2020 - products than need to be Halal certified
• Act GR 39/2021 – replacing 33/2014
• PP 39/2021, clarifying GR 39/2021 on Halal Certifying Body recognition

Not only is Halal certification becoming mandatory to avoid labelling products as Haram, finished products are to be certified directly through BPJPH rather than being accepted based on mutual recognition of (foreign) Halal certificates. This may be different than current practice where products sold in foodservice are exempt from direct Halal certification.

Also recognition of foreign Halal Certifying Bodies (HCB) may become more difficult as, amongst other :

• recognition is based on a country by country basis, with formal Gouvernment-to-Government agreements (which are lacking as of today);
• HCB have to to accredited by a national (not regional), internationally accredited, accreditation body (which usually is not the case at the moment);
• recognition is to be based on the mutual recognition of the Halal Assurance System (JPH) being assessed, resulting in the enforcement of all requirements of GR39/2021 (which usually is not the case as of today);
• have at least 3 BPJPH approved Halal auditors, resulting in the enforcement of all requirements of GR39/2021 (which usually is not the case as of today);

Furthermore, Halal certificates from national HCB's still have to be registered (by an Indonesian company) with BPJPH.

With implementation deadlines approaching (grace period for food ending 17.10.2024 and mandatory Halal certification for medicines and cosmetics started on 17.10.21) uncertainty grows and direct Halal Certification by BPJPH more and more becomes a viable alternative for securing and maintaining Indonesian market access :

• BPJPH Halal certificates have a 4-year validity period:
• making them cost competitive against yearly certification fees of local HCB's;
• protect a certified company for 4 years from changes in legislation or requirements;
• are easy to renew (no audit) as long as no changes did occur;
• the same Halal and HAS requirements will apply, whether certified directly by BPJPH or indirectly through a national Halal Certification Body (once the HCB is formally BPJPH accredited);
• market access is assured, independently of whether or not the current national or regional Halal Certification Body used will be recognised or not in future;

Anticipating these evolutions and capitalising on its past experience with Halal certification in Indonesia, now developed a complete BPJPH Halal certification support :

• Setting up and managing a BPJPH compliant Halal Assurance System (JPH);
• Manage BPJPH Halal Certification Registration (SI Halal; obtain a BPJPH STTD);
• Manage the Halal audit, using a BPJPH accredited (Indonesian) LSP (Halal audit company);
• Manage BPJPH Halal Certification (obtain the BPJPH Halal Certificate; obtain the BPJPH Halal Logo when made available);
• or, management of registration of foreign Halal Certificates by BPJPH;