Halal Certification Is Mandatory for Indonesian Micro and Small Food Firms Since 18 October
Indonesia's halal certification duty for micro and small food and drink businesses has applied since mid-October 2026 with no postponement. Here is what the government has said and what an uncertified business should do now.Halal certification has been mandatory since mid-October 2026 for Indonesian micro and small businesses that produce food, drinks and slaughtered products or provide slaughtering services. Ahmad Haikal Hasan, head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), gave the date as 18 October 2026 at a press conference on 9 October reported by InfoPublik, the government news service, and said: "Mandatory halal will still be implemented. There is no postponement."
On the date, two sources differ by one day. InfoPublik quotes BPJPH with 18 October 2026, while Investortrust on 14 October 2026 wrote that the obligation starts on 17 October 2026. We do not rule on which is right. For a business owner the gap changes nothing: the Indonesia halal certification deadline passed about four weeks ago.
This article is about product compliance, not anyone's beliefs. If your business falls under the rule and is not yet certified, here is what to hold on to.
What the government has said
- Legal basis. According to Investortrust, the duty for micro and small businesses (known as UMK, usaha mikro dan kecil) sits in Article 160 of Government Regulation 42 of 2024. This phase covers food, drinks, slaughtered products and slaughtering services.
- No raids. InfoPublik quotes Haikal: "There will be no sweeps or similar action. None. We guarantee it."
- Sanctions remain. According to Katadata on 27 August 2026, BPJPH lists the sanctions as written warnings, administrative fines, revocation of halal certificates and withdrawal of products from circulation. The amount of the fines does not appear in the sources we read.
- Those not ready. Businesses that are not ready are asked to send a formal request letter to BPJPH. InfoPublik stresses that sending a letter does not automatically mean relief or a delay.
- A free route. Investortrust reports that BPJPH planned 1.35 million free halal certificates for micro and small businesses in 2026 under the Sehati programme (Sertifikasi Halal Gratis, free halal certification), with applications through the SiHalal online system.
- Special provisions. InfoPublik says the government is preparing special provisions for certain conditions, chiefly micro and small businesses. No detail is given.
Katadata supplies the wider picture. Adhi S. Lukman, chair of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Producers Association (GAPMMI), citing Statistics Indonesia data, said there are about 1.7 million small and household food industry units and fewer than 1 million are certified. An uncertified business is therefore far from alone, which is still no reason to wait.
We found no report of enforcement after the deadline in the sources we opened. That is no guarantee for the months ahead.
Before and after the deadline
| Item | Before mid-October 2026 | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Status for micro and small food firms | Phase-in period | Duty applies |
| Administrative sanctions | Not yet relevant | Exist, stepped up from a written warning |
| Those not ready | Waiting | File a formal request, with no promise of relief |
Steps for this week
This section is our practical advice.
1. Establish where your products fall
List everything you sell. Home-made food and drinks, bottled chilli sauce, cakes to order, cut meat: all belong to the groups named in this phase. If you are unsure whether a product needs certification, check the official site bpjph.halal.go.id, not a forwarded message.
2. Start the application through SiHalal
Create an account and begin. Ask whether your business qualifies for the free Sehati programme, since its quota is limited to the number planned for 2026. We do not list the detailed requirements because they are not in our sources. Prepare the material that will almost certainly be asked for:
- Details of the business and its owner.
- A product list.
- An ingredient list with supplier names and brands.
- A short description of production, from incoming ingredients to packing.
The ingredient list usually takes longest. Start there.
3. Keep proof of the process
From day one, keep in a single folder:
- Dated screenshots of your account registration and application.
- The application number and every official reply.
- A copy of your request letter if you send one, with proof of receipt.
- Purchase receipts from ingredient suppliers.
This proof is not a certificate, and sending a letter does not grant relief. But when an inspector, a marketplace or a corporate customer asks, you can show exactly where you stand.
4. Answer customers honestly
Customers and marketplaces will ask more often. Give the whole team one fixed answer:
- If certified: say so and show the number.
- If in process: "Our products are in the halal certification process, applied for on such a date." Do not write "halal" or place a halal logo on packaging, menus or online listings before the certificate is issued.
- If you have not applied: do not improvise. Say so, and begin.
Check product photos, marketplace descriptions and social media bios too. Old claims not backed by a certificate should come down today.
5. Be wary of shortcuts on offer
InfoPublik reports that BPJPH received a letter demanding payment on the pretext of a postponement, and asked businesses to report anyone claiming to act for BPJPH who intimidates them or asks for money. Keep the evidence and do not transfer anything.
Make the records routine
Certification is easier for a business that records well: which ingredient was bought from whom, when, and for which product. If ingredient purchases and supplier payments already sit in your books, half the paperwork is done. Polynusa's bookkeeping records invoices and payments of that kind, see the pricing page.
Note: provisions differ by product type and business size. Confirm your own case directly with BPJPH or an authorised adviser.
Sources
- InfoPublik (Komdigi), 14 October 2026: Wajib Halal Berlaku 18 Oktober 2026, BPJPH Minta Perusahaan Belum Siap Ajukan Permohonan
- Investortrust, 14 October 2026: Aturan Wajib Sertifikasi Halal UMK Mulai Berlaku 17 Oktober 2026
- Katadata, 27 August 2026: Wajib Halal Dimulai Oktober, Jutaan Bisnis Makanan Minuman Disebut Belum Siap
FAQ
When did mandatory halal certification start for micro and small businesses?
The head of Indonesia's halal agency BPJPH said the duty applies from 18 October 2026 with no postponement, according to InfoPublik. Investortrust wrote 17 October 2026. The two sources differ by a day and we report both.
Will uncertified businesses be raided?
BPJPH head Ahmad Haikal Hasan guaranteed there would be no sweeps or similar action. According to Katadata, however, BPJPH says administrative sanctions remain, from written warnings to product withdrawal.
How can a small business apply for free halal certification?
According to Investortrust, applications go through the SiHalal system, and BPJPH planned 1.35 million free halal certificates for micro and small businesses in 2026 under the Sehati programme. Check detailed requirements on BPJPH's official channels.