On October 17, 2024, Indonesia released and implemented Government Regulation (GR) No. 42 of 2024 Regarding Implementation of Halal Product Assurance. The key amendments include: 1) Clarifying the required documents for the appointment of the halal supervisor; 2) Slightly adjusting the time limits for certain halal certification steps; 3) Clarifying the obligations of companies with halal certificates; 4) Clarifying requirements for halal certificate renewal; 5) Adding exemption for halal labelling; 6) Clarifying conditions of imported products applying for halal certificate from BPJPH; 7) Adjusting the timeline for renewing foreign halal certificate registration.

On September 19, 2024, Indonesia announced that the Minister of Religious Affairs signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Halal Product Assurance (JPH) with Halal Italia. This MRA establishes the basis for mutual recognition of halal certificates between the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Halal Italia.

Indonesia Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) announced the opening of the Foreign Halal Certificate Registration (RSHLN) channel on the Halal Information System (Sihalal). With this new channel, products certified as halal by recognized LHLNs that have Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with BPJPH can enter the Indonesian market by simply registering their foreign halal certificates, rather than applying for new certifications from BPJPH.

As revealed by an official notice issued on June 25, 2024, Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) is now soliciting public feedback to its draft “Decree on the Management of Halal Products and Services”.

ChemLinked interviewed Ir. Muti Arintawati, the President Director of LPPOM MUI, Indonesia's halal auditing organization. The discussion covers the necessary steps, timeline, ingredient requirements, transportation processes, tips, and other key aspects of obtaining halal certification for cosmetic products in Indonesia.

On May 29, 2024, the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs published an article on its website, emphasizing that some materials exempt from the requirement to be certified halal. As early as 2021, the Indonesian government issued Minister of Religion Decree No.1360 of 2021, outlining materials exempted from the obligation of halal certification and providing legal guidance on materials not requiring halal certification.

On March 24, 2024, Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) published an article on its website, emphasizing that products originating from non-halal sources or containing non-halal materials are not subject to the halal certification requirement. Because these products are exempt from halal certification, they can still be traded as long as their non-halal nature are clearly labeled. For instance, products containing pork must include text or imagery depicting pork on the packaging.

On March 20, 2024, the PCHi 2024 event commenced at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. One of the presentations on Halal cosmetics regulations in Indonesia caught attention. It was delivered by Ms. Muti Arintawati, President Director at LPPOM MUI, a leading Halal inspection agency in Indonesia.

In early November, Indonesia Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) notified WTO members six drafted documents regarding halal certification.

MRAs were signed between BPJPH and 9 LHLNs in terms of mutual recognition and acceptance of halal certificates, and other MRAs were signed between BPJPH and 28 LHLNs in agreement to accelerate the completion of LHLN assessments for recognition and acceptance of halal certificates.

WTO circulated Indonesian Decree on Materials Excluded from Halal Certification Obligation. Materials in the Decree do not require halal certification, including: 1) Materials derived from nature without any further process or physical process or addition of any auxiliary substances, additives, or other substances; 2) Materials without risk of containing or being contaminated by haram substances; 3) Non-dangerous materials without containing haram substances.

On March 13, 2022, Indonesia Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) announced to set a new halal label logo, which is stipulated in BPJPH Number 40 of 2022 regarding the Determination of Halal Labels, as an implementation of the mandate of Article 37 of Law Number 33 of 2014. The new halal logo has been applied nationally and must be shown on the product packaging as a sign of product halalness from March 1, 2022.

Indonesia issued a new Halal certification law, under Government Regulation 39 of 2021 (GR 39/2021) that will impact businesses in most industries. GR 39/2021 states that products that enter, circulate, and are traded in Indonesia must be Halal certified unless they are originating from materials prohibited under Islam (Haram).

Indonesian Omnibus Law significantly reduces the time required for halal certification from 90 days to 21 days in addition to reducing the burden on enterprises and clarifying the responsibility division between BPJPH and MUI...

Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (MPPHM) 2020, Malaysian Halal Management System 2020, and Malaysian Standard 2019, the main references for halal certification, will be implemented on January 1, 2021.

The Circular stipulates that all SPHM holders shall sign the HCA with the halal certification body to ensure the requirements stated in ISO/IEC 17065-Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes, and Services and the references applicable in the implementation of certification are complied with by both parties...

The Ministry of Religion finally issued Decree of the Ministry of Religion (KMA) No. 982 of 2019 concerning Halal Certification Services. This decree returned the product examination and testing responsibility to LPPOM MUI...

The Malaysia Halal Certification Body (JAKIM) is the first to introduce and develop a Halal standard for cosmetics and personal care products which aligns with the Malaysian Standards (MS), a national standards and accreditation body in Malaysia. It serves as the basic requirement for Halal cosmetics and Halal personal care products trade in Malaysia.

2019 In-cosmetics Exhibition was held in Thailand from Nov. 5-7, 2019. During the exhibition, halal auditors from LPPOM MUI detailed the requirements on Indonesian halal cosmetics...

As of October 17, 2019, Indonesia' s Halal Product Law (“Halal Law”) came into effect. Many consumer products and related services that enter and are traded in the country must now be Halal-certified, while some products and services will have until 2022 to comply...

Indonesia is the fourth biggest country in the world with about 260 million people, of whom more than 86% are Islamic, making Indonesia the largest Muslim country in the world. Muslims have strict standards on diet and consumer products. For the same kind of products, Muslim consumers will give priority to products with halal certification labels...

Effective from October 11, 2017, the Religious Affairs Ministry (MORA) has founded the Halal Products Certification Agency or Halal Product Assurance Implementing Board (BPJPH) as the sole halal certification body – three years after Law 33/2014 was issued. This agency was established to coordinate the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). Prior to 2014, halal certification was regulated on a voluntary basis...

Halal cosmetics are a rapidly developing niche of the halal and mainstream market. The 100% natural ingredients commitment of halal products also attracts many non-Muslims. The increased popularity of these products requires development of a regulatory and certification system.

MUI Halal certificate is a written fatwa/official statement from the Indonesian Ulama Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia/MUI) which guarantees that the products are in accordance with the Islamic Syariat. MUI Halal Certificate is a requirement for obtaining government endorsed halal certification and for usage of relevant labeling on the packaging of products...