MUI: Halal mandate must not be delayed again in October 2026

Indonesia’s halal certification requirement must not be postponed again, KH Asrorun Niam Sholeh, head of the Indonesian Ulema Council’s fatwa division, said in Jakarta.

The requirement is scheduled to apply fully on Oct. 17, 2026. Speaking at an event organized by LPPOM, Niam said delaying the public’s right to halal product guarantees showed that authorities were not serious about serving the public and amounted to injustice.

“Fulfilling rights must be expedited. Delaying the provision of a right to people, when others urgently need it, is an action that is not justified either by law or by public morality,” Niam told Republika on Sept. 2.

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For me personally and for MUI, delaying people’s rights shows that public service is not being taken seriously. Delaying something that is the public’s right is injustice.

He urged businesses to use the remaining month and a half to prepare, while calling on the government to ensure enforcement. The certification requirement covers products produced and distributed in Indonesia under the Halal Product Assurance Law.

The law was passed on Oct. 17, 2014, with a five-year period initially provided to build the necessary infrastructure. The original deadline of Oct. 17, 2019, was later relaxed until Oct. 17, 2024. Niam said commitments made in 2024 ruled out another relaxation, but the requirement was subsequently delayed. He said there was now no room for another postponement and warned that neglecting certification could violate the law and threaten business continuity.

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Fulfilling rights must be expedited. Delaying the provision of a right to people, when others urgently need it, is an action that is not justified either by law or by public morality.