Come 17 October 2026, Indonesia will require mandatory Halal certification by the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) for both domestic and imported goods, and this will present both as a challenge as well as an opportunity for Vietnamese exporters.
Vietnam, as one of ASEAN member countries, has much to gain from access to 300 million strong Indonesian market due to existing free trade and tariff agreements, as well as Vietnam’s competitive logistics costs.
Demand for Halal-certified products now extends far beyond food, encompassing cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fashion and even tourism services.
Damayanti Siahaan, a member of the Indonesia-Vietnam Bilateral Committee under the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), said Vietnam has growing opportunities to become more deeply integrated into regional and global Halal supply chains. She suggested, “Rather than competing directly, Vietnam and Indonesia could collaborate to develop Halal products for export to third-country markets.”
Pham The Cuong, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Indonesia, said many of Vietnam’s key export products like confectionery, cereal-based products, processed fruits and vegetables, and processed seafood, will fall under the mandatory certification requirement.
The Cuong urged exporters to complete the certification process as early as possible to avoid potential disruptions once the regulation takes effect. He said, “Businesses can apply for Halal certification directly through BPJPH, via their Indonesian importers, or through BPJPH-recognised certification bodies in Vietnam for food and beverage products.”
Halal certification should no longer be viewed simply as an administrative requirement but as an increasingly important competitive asset. He advised Vietnamese business to conduct thorough market research and complete Halal certification and product registration before entering Indonesia, and establish local commercial teams, with particular attention to Java, which accounts for more than 60% of Indonesia’s population and where most of the middle class consumers are located.
