BANGKOK: Thai food exporters are being urged to review their products and certification arrangements before October 17 as Indonesia moves towards wider enforcement of its halal requirements for food and beverages.
Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) under the Commerce Ministry, said Indonesia had expanded halal measures under its Halal Product Assurance Law, Law No. 33/2014, and regulations administered by the Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH).
TPSO said the measures would affect Thai exporters differently depending on the nature and processing of their products. Indonesian rules distinguish between products requiring halal certification and products qualifying for exemption under the Halal Positive List.
Processed products containing multiple ingredients or additives generally require halal certification from Indonesia or from a foreign halal certification body recognised by BPJPH before import, according to TPSO. Products eligible for exemption must be inherently halal, contain no added ingredients during processing and have evidence demonstrating that their production and supply chains are free from prohibited contamination.
Indonesian market worth more than US$9 billion to Thailand
Indonesia is an important export market for Thailand. Thai exports to the country were valued at US$9.3361 billion, or 306.529 billion baht, in 2025.
Agricultural and agro-industrial exports accounted for US$1.4152 billion, or 46.867 billion baht. Major food and beverage exports included sugar, cassava products, fresh, chilled, frozen and dried fruit, pet food, rice, wheat products, prepared foods and beverages.
The rules mean that some products that may appear to be naturally fresh could still require certification once ingredients or additional processing are involved.
TPSO cited processed or seasoned seafood containing sauces, spices or oil, as well as dried fruit with added ingredients or coatings, among products requiring closer attention. Frozen fruit with additional ingredients, dried longan and fresh fruit coated with wax to preserve freshness can also be treated as processed products requiring halal certification. Products containing genetically modified plant ingredients are also included, TPSO said.
Unprocessed produce may qualify for exemption
Primary agricultural products that are genuinely unprocessed, including fresh vegetables and fruit without surface coatings, may remain eligible for the Halal Positive List exemption.
Such exporters may therefore face lower certification costs than businesses selling more heavily processed products, although TPSO said they would still need production systems and supporting documentation demonstrating supply-chain transparency.
Exporters requiring particular preparation include those handling seafood, dried fruit, wax-coated fruit, ready-to-eat meals, snacks, functional drinks, health foods and processed agricultural products containing additional ingredients or additives. TPSO said compliance planning should cover the process from the factory through to the Indonesian market.
Thai businesses do not necessarily need to seek certification directly in Indonesia. They can use halal certification bodies in Thailand that have been recognised by BPJPH for products destined for the Indonesian market.
Halal requirements extend towards logistics
The compliance challenge is also extending beyond the product itself. TPSO said Indonesia was developing halal logistics guidelines covering transport, storage, warehouses and containers to prevent halal-certified products from being contaminated by non-halal goods during transit.
Food businesses and logistics providers would therefore need to prepare for requirements involving separated storage areas, cold-chain management, halal-status labelling and traceability throughout the supply chain, TPSO said.
Nantapong said competition in the halal food market was increasingly about standards, certification systems and end-to-end supply-chain management rather than production costs alone. He urged businesses to study trading partners’ rules carefully, assess costs and competitiveness, and develop higher-value food innovation alongside internationally recognised food-safety standards
He said stronger Indonesian halal requirements could encourage Thai food producers to raise their standards and potentially strengthen Thailand’s position as a halal food production and sourcing base in Asean and wider Muslim markets if businesses adapt quickly and continue developing products for changing global demand.
The period before October 17 is therefore a key preparation window for Thai exporters to determine which category their products fall into and ensure the necessary certification and supporting documents are ready. – The Nation/ANN
