JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has clarified that mandatory halal certification requirements remain in force, following some media reports suggesting that certain products from the United States(US) could enter Indonesia without halal certification under the newly signed reciprocal tariff agreement.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said such interpretations were inaccurate and misleading.
"That is not true,” he said, according to ANTARA News Agency, Sunday night.
Several local media reports highlighted provisions in Annex III Article 2.9 of the reciprocal tariff trade agreement (ART) signed by President Prabowo Subianto and US President Donald Trump in Washington, suggesting adjustments to halal regulations to facilitate exports of cosmetics, medical devices and other goods from the US.
Teddy stressed that all products that are legally required to obtain halal certification must continue to comply with prevailing Indonesian law.
"Products that are required to be certified must certainly have a halal label, either from a halal body in the US or a halal body in Indonesia,” he said.
He explained that halal certification remains mandatory for food and beverage products.
In Indonesia, halal certification is administered by the Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH), while in the United States, halal certificates may be issued by recognised institutions such as the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) and Halal Transactions of Omaha (HTO).
In addition, he said cosmetic products and medical devices are subject to regulatory oversight and must obtain distribution permits and certification from the Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM) before being marketed domestically.
Teddy noted that Indonesia and the US have a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on halal standards which allows for mutual recognition of certification without lowering regulatory standards in either country.
He reiterated that the agreement does not abolish Indonesia’s halal certification requirements, and that any technical adjustments remain subject to existing laws and supervision. - Bernama
