Unpacking Indonesian Cosmetic Halal Certification: An Expert Dialogue with LPPOM MUI

Indonesia, with a population of around 270 million and over 87% Muslim, places immense importance on halal products. Muslim consumers prioritize purchasing products with halal certification labels. To ensure consumer confidence, Indonesia enacted the Halal Product Assurance (HPA) Law in 2014, which came into effect in 2019.

Under the HPA Law, all products imported, distributed, or traded in Indonesia—including cosmetics, foods, medicines, and more—must obtain halal certification from October 2019 onwards. For cosmetics, a transition period is provided until October 2026, after which all halal cosmetics circulated in Indonesia must be certified.

To provide an in-depth understanding of the halal certification requirements for cosmetics, 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.

Ir. Muti Arintawati President Director of LPPOM MUI Ir. Muti Arintawati, M.Si has been working and involve in halal certification since 1994. She gained a Bachelor degree in Food Technology & Nutrition in 1992 and a Master degree in Food Science in 1999, both in IPB University. She took various roles in the Halal Ecosystem, from Halal Auditor, speaker at various forums, and developer of the Indonesian National Work Competency Standards-SKKNI on halal.

Q1. What is the role of LPPOM MUI in halal certification?

A1: LPPOM MUI is Indonesia's first halal certification body, established in 1989. The institution has over 55,000 clients in over 65 countries, with more than 1,000 auditors in 34 provinces, South Korea, Chinese Mainland, and Taiwan, China. Since Halal Product Assurance Law No. 33 was enacted in 2014, the authority for halal certification within Indonesian territory has shifted to a government body under the Ministry of Religious Affairs called Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH). For the Indonesian domestic market, LPPOM MUI's role is to perform halal audit, which will report to the MUI Fatwa Committee (to obtain Halal Decree) and then to BPJPH to obtain a BPJPH halal certificate. LPPOM MUI also offers halal certification scheme accepted in other countries, such as United Arab Emirates (ESMA standar UAE 2055-2), Turkey (OIC/SMIIC 2: 2019), Gulf Countries (GSO 2055-2:2021), Qatar, and many more.

Q2. What are the requirements for cosmetics to obtain halal certification in Indonesia?

A2: In Indonesia, cosmetics must meet the following requirements to obtain halal certification:

1. According to Islamic law, Ingredients must be free from any haram substances which are forbidden.

2. Manufacturing processes must have no contamination with haram substances and be porcine-free.

3. Company implements Sistem Jaminan Produk Halal (Halal Product Assurance System, SJPH). SJPH is a quality management system outlined by BPJPH, which should be implemented by a company applying for BPJPH’s halal certificate. SJPH criteria comprise 5 points: (1) commitment and responsibility, (2) materials, (2) halal product process, (3) products, (4) monitoring, and (5) evaluation. More information can be accessed through LPPOM MUI’s website.

The halal-certification requirement for cosmetics will apply on October 2026, according to Article 141 point 1.d, Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021 Regarding Implementation of Halal Product Assurance.

Q3. Should all cosmetics ingredients have individual halal certificates?

A3: Not all ingredients in halal cosmetics need to be accompanied by a halal certificate. The complete list in the Ministry of Religious Affairs Decree 1360 of 2021 concerning Materials Excluded from the Obligation to be Halal Certified. The list can be accessed in LPPOM MUI’s website.

Q4. What is the typical timeline for obtaining halal certification for cosmetics in Indonesia?

A4: The typical timeline can vary but generally takes 1 to 2 months. This timeline includes the submission of required documents, an audit by the halal certification body, and the issuance of the halal certificate. This is outlined in Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021. The below is a brief explanation of the timeline:

Q5. If there are changes to the cosmetic formula or production process, is it necessary to conduct a new halal certification audit or re-apply for halal certification?

A5: According to points 1 and 2 (page 311), Article 42, the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 on Job Creation into Law - Law No.6 of 2023, the halal certificate is valid for lifetime should the composition material and Halal Product Process (Proses Produk Halal) not change. Any change to the cosmetic formula or Halal Product Process requires re-certification. As explained earlier, the Halal Product Process is one of the criteria of the Halal Product Assurance System.

Q6. Can cosmetics containing alcohol be halal-certified? Is there a limit on alcohol concentration?

A6: Cosmetics containing ethanol can be halal-certified if derived from non-alcoholic beverages. There is no limit on alcohol concentration as long as the cosmetic is safe to use.

Q7. For overseas companies with multiple manufacturing sites, are all sites subject to on-site audits for halal certification?

A7: Yes, all manufacturing sites must undergo on-site audits to ensure they comply with halal standards. Each site must be individually evaluated for the integrity of the halal production process.

Q8. How can companies prove their compliance with halal regulations during the transportation of imported cosmetics?

A8: According to point 1.d and point 2, Article 141, Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021, the transportation of imported cosmetics is also required to be halal-certified, which will apply in October 2026. Aside from the obligation to implement Halal Product Assurance System, there are three primary concerns in cosmetics logistic certification:

- During transportation, there should be a procedure to avoid cross-contamination.

- Although rare, halal meat ingredients stored in cold chain should be put in a dedicated halal container.

- Halal-compliant cleaning agent should be used during cleaning.

Q9. Should imported cosmetics obtain halal certification in the country of origin? If the company holds a certificate from a recognized overseas halal certification agency, are there any other procedures required when entering Indonesia?

A9: Imported cosmetics can have halal certification from a recognized halal certification body in the country of origin. They are enlisted in the BPJPH website.

This halal certificate must also be registered according to point 2, Article 127, Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021. For this registration process, a fee will be charged according to the second appendix of the Decree of The Head of BPJPH No 14 of 2024. The advantage of having BPJPH’s halal certificate is that the certificate will be valid for lifetime without the need for registration and the risk of a certain halal certifier being delisted from the accredited halal certifier list issued by BPJPH.

Q10. Are non-halal cosmetics allowed to be imported into/sold in Indonesia after October 18, 2026?

A10: Non-halal cosmetics may be sold in Indonesia after October 18, 2026. However, they must bear a mark indicating that the product is not halal, based on point 3, Article 2, Government Regulation No. 39 of 2021. With population dominated by Moslems, such products may not sell well in the Indonesian market.

Cosmetics that do not contain haram or Najis material and do not pursue a halal certificate should submit a license to distribute to Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM). BPOM will verify whether the material is haram. If BPOM confirms that the material is not haram, the company will be asked to submit halal certification through BPJPH.

Q11. For cosmetics companies that plan to apply for halal certification in Indonesia, do you have any suggestions? Any tips or strategies can be followed?

A11: To accelerate the application process, cosmetics companies interested in pursuing halal certification in Indonesia could follow four steps:

1. Thoroughly study the requirements of the Halal Product Assurance System, compare them with the company’s business process, and create a gap analysis. Based on the gap, the company can outline aspects that should be improved.

2. Ensure all ingredients and manufacturing processes comply with halal standards. One of the main obstacles in certification is the supporting documents for ingredients, so the company must make sure that the materials (including additives, processing aids, cleaning agents, and packaging) are supported by appropriate documents, such as a halal certificate from accredited halal certifiers.

3. Attend the “Introduction to the Halal Certification” class provided by LPPOM MUI and speak with the LPPOM MUI officer to understand the halal regulation landscape. The session is available in English, but LPPOM MUI could tailor it to other languages, such as Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, etc.

4. For foreign companies, visa and travel preparation could take some time, while BPJPH limits the audit duration (starting when the payment has been made). This is why we suggest companies prepare and discuss all documents with LPPOM MUI before applying with BPJPH to avoid the registration being canceled while the audit is in progress. LPPOM MUI’s service is available in English and Indonesian, Monday through Friday, 08:00-17:00, GMT+7. We provide local support for some areas, such as Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, China, South Korea and Japan.

Further Reading

• Indonesia BPJPH Emphasizes Some Materials Exempt from the Requirement to be Certified Halal

• Indonesia BPJPH Emphasizes Non-halal Information Labeling for Non-halal Products

• Webinar | Decoding Halal Certification Regulations for Food and Cosmetics in Indonesia, Malaysia and India