Fact Check: Claim That U.S. Wants to Remove Halal Certification in Indonesia Is Misleading

January 30, 2026 | 05:01 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A NUMBER of content pieces claiming that the United States wants to change or eliminate regulations on halal certification in Indonesia have circulated on Facebook [archive] and Instagram.

The narrative in the video states that U.S. President Donald Trump said halal certificates in Indonesia make it difficult to sell the products they export. “America bans halal certificates in Indonesia and America wants to change Indonesia’s halal rules,” wrote the account uploader.

But is it true that the United States issued a recommendation to remove Indonesia’s halal certification rules?

FACT-CHECK

Tempo verified the content by checking U.S. government documents related to foreign trade and halal certification issues, and comparing social media narratives with information from credible sources. The results show that the United States had indeed raised concerns about Indonesia’s halal certification regulations. However, both countries have signed agreements to strengthen cooperation on transparent halal products.

Why did the United States complain about Indonesia’s halal regulations?

According to Tempo, this issue emerged after the document “2025 National Trade Estimate Report On Foreign Trade Barriers” by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) was published in February 2025. The document outlines barriers to U.S. trade abroad.

One of the barriers mentioned concerns the varied or frequently changing halal regulations in Indonesia. In addition, the halal regulations were created without prior consultation with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Halal regulations in Indonesia include Government Regulation (PP) No. 42 of 2024 concerning the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance. This regulation requires all products circulating, entering, and being traded in Indonesia to have a halal certificate. Products containing prohibited ingredients must be labeled “non-halal.”

There is also Minister of Religious Affairs Decree (KMA) No. 748/2021, which details the types of products that require halal certification. This regulation was amended by No. 944/2024, specifically regulating the production of food and beverages.

Meanwhile, other types of products, such as medicines, cosmetics, genetically engineered products, chemical products, biological products, and consumer goods, still refer to KMA No. 748/2021. Another regulation, KMA No. 1360/2021, more popularly known as the “halal positive list,” establishes a list of foods, additives, and other materials that are not required to obtain halal certification.

Then KMA No. 816/2024 was issued concerning certain food and beverage products based on HS codes that must be halal-certified.

How was the complaint resolved?

To bridge the complexity of halal regulations in Indonesia, two U.S.-based halal organizations, ISA Inc Dba Islamic Services of America and USA Halal Chamber of Commerce Inc Dba ISWA Halal Certification Department, have collaborated with Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH).

The BPJPH website states that both parties signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of transparent, accountable, and trusted halal product assurance. The signing took place at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in the United States in Washington D.C. on May 20, 2025.

In addition, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Advisor Lisa Ahramjian stated that her agency is committed to meeting halal certification for agricultural products to be exported to Indonesia, as reported by Antara.

They will refer to the halal certification requirements from BPJPH RI. The press conference was part of the U.S. Agribusiness Trade Mission, which brought 85 companies and their industry representatives to Indonesia to explore trade and partnership opportunities.

“Regarding halal, our office works very closely with BPJPH. And of course, U.S. products always strive to comply with the requirements set by BPJPH,” Lisa said at a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta on Monday, January 26, 2026.

CONCLUSION

Tempo’s verification concludes that the narrative claiming the United States asked for Indonesia’s halal certification to be removed or changed is misleading. They merely complained about the large number of regulations in Indonesia concerning halal product requirements.

TEMPO FACT-CHECK TEAM

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