Jakarta. Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) is stepping up efforts to prepare businesses for the mandatory halal certification policy, set to take effect in October 2026, by offering free certification to small eateries and street-side food stalls, commonly known as warungs, such as warung Tegal, warung Sunda, and warung Padang.

BPJPH Chief Ahmad Haikal Hasan said the initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen the national halal certification ecosystem and ensure micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are not left behind. “President Prabowo Subianto’s gift for Indonesia’s Independence Day is free halal certification for warteg, warsun, and similar eateries, under BPJPH Decree No. 146/2025, effective since July 8,” Ahmad said in a statement Monday.

So far, BPJPH has issued 2.79 million halal certificates covering 9.6 million products in the domestic market. Under the new program, 700 warteg have already received free certification through a simplified self-declare scheme, while another 500 eateries are in the process. The scheme allows small business owners to declare the halal status of their products independently, with BPJPH providing guidance to streamline the process.

“The numbers keep rising as we accelerate halal certification, especially in the micro and small business sector, which is the backbone of Indonesia’s economy,” Ahmad, who is also known as Babe Haikal, said.

Street food stalls and small eateries play a vital role in Indonesian daily life, particularly in urban centers, providing affordable meals to millions. With official halal labels, these businesses are expected to gain stronger consumer trust and expand into catering, online food services, and partnerships with digital platforms.

To support the rollout, BPJPH has mobilized 328 Halal Product Process Assistance Institutions (LP3H) with more than 103,000 halal process assistants nationwide. In addition, 108 halal inspection agencies (LPH) employ 1,778 registered auditors, complemented by 2,866 trained supervisors, ensuring compliance with halal assurance standards. On the supply side, 3,058 certified halal butchers have been deployed at slaughterhouses across the country to maintain standards in meat production.

Beyond certification, BPJPH is also working to establish halal markets and strengthen public awareness through regulation, education campaigns, and social media outreach. The agency is collaborating with ministries, regional governments, state-owned enterprises, business associations, universities, and community organizations to build what Ahmad calls a “disciplined halal ecosystem.”

“Collaboration is essential to create a competitive halal industry and to affirm Indonesia’s position as a global halal hub,” he said.

According to Government Regulation No. 42 of 2024 on the Implementation of Halal Product Assurance, all food products within Indonesia, and imported foods, will become mandatory by 2026

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, sees its domestic halal market valued at more than 3,800 trillion rupiah ($240 billion) annually, with significant potential in the global halal economy. According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2023, Muslim consumer spending across halal food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, tourism, and media reached $2.29 trillion in 2022 and is projected to surpass $2.8 trillion by 2025.