Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affair's Halal Product Guarantee Organizing Agency (BPJPH) held the H20 international forum on halal standardization in Jakarta. Part of the H20 forum was the signing of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) with Foreign Halal Certifying Bodies (FHCBs) that are critical to United States dairy exports.

One MRA was between BPJPH and Foreign Halal Certifying Bodies (FHCBs) for mutual recognition and acceptance of the halal certificates. The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) is currently the only US certifier that is fully recognized and listed on the MRA. With the MRA signing, dairy products certified by IFANCA are recognized to be halal and allowed to be exported to Indonesia after October 17, 2024.

To date, U.S. HCBs namely, American Halal Foundation (AHF), ISWA Halal Certification Department, Islamic Services of America (ISA), and Halal Transaction of Omaha (HTO) have completed their initial assessments and are moving through the audit process set forth by BPJPH so that halal certificates from these certifiers can also be recognized and accepted in Indonesia.

USDEC is following this situation closely and will update members as the remaining U.S. halal certifiers complete their assessments. Members are advised to work closely with their importers on registration of these foreign halal certificates. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Aimee Pinkerton at apinkerton@usdec.org.