Navigating Halal Certification for Cosmetics in Indonesia

The rules of the game are changing for cosmetics brands in Indonesia. Halal compliance used to be a nice-to-have — a claim brands could make if they wanted a certain market edge. That's no longer the case. It's fast becoming a condition of doing business at all, and companies planning to enter or grow in this market need to understand exactly what's required.

Where the Rules Come From

Indonesia's halal system is anchored in Law No. 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance, with Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 filling in the operational detail. The core rule is simple: if a cosmetic product is marketed as halal, it must be certified as such. Products made with non-halal ingredients can still be sold, but they have to be labeled clearly and honestly as non-halal — there's no gray area allowed on packaging.

Three organizations run the system between them:

• BPJPH — the national agency overseeing halal product assurance
• LPH — halal inspection bodies that conduct audits
• MUI — the Indonesian Ulema Council, which issues the final religious ruling (fatwa)

Mark Your Calendar: October 17, 2026

This is the deadline currently in place for cosmetics and personal care products to obtain halal certification. It's not a soft target — products that miss it without proper labeling face administrative sanctions and potential loss of market access. Given how long certification can take, this date should already be shaping planning timelines.

The Path to Certification, Step by Step

1. Gather documentation — formulations, ingredient lists, supplier certificates, manufacturing flowcharts, and company licenses.
2. Apply through SIHALAL — BPJPH's digital system for filing and tracking applications.
3. Undergo audit — LPH examines raw materials, production, and facilities for halal integrity.
4. Await the fatwa — MUI reviews the audit and rules on compliance.
5. Receive certification — BPJPH issues the certificate, opening the door to the Indonesian market.

What It Takes to Get There

Certification isn't just a paperwork exercise. Brands need:

• Ingredients that are halal-compliant and fully traceable back through the supply chain
• Labels that spell out halal or non-halal status, along with ingredients, net weight, dates of manufacture and expiry, warnings, and usage directions — with no pig, pork, or alcohol imagery anywhere on the packaging
• Manufacturing processes that keep halal and non-halal materials separate
• A working Halal Assurance System (SJPH)
• A Halal Supervisor (Penyelia Halal) tasked with keeping everything on track

Foreign companies can't apply directly — they need a local representative or importer to manage the process on the ground.

Why This Matters Beyond Compliance

Halal certification in Indonesia isn't limited to what's in the bottle. It touches sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution alike. Brands that treat it only as a regulatory hurdle are missing the upside: certification is also a trust signal in a market where that trust translates directly into sales. Companies that start building compliant systems now, well ahead of the deadline, will be the ones ready to compete when it arrives.

Need help navigating the certification process? Freyr's regulatory team can guide you through it.