POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta – Reports that a number of U.S. products—ranging from food and cosmetics to manufactured goods—could potentially be exempted from halal certification and labeling requirements have drawn a sharp response from the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).

Singgih Januratmoko, Vice Chairman of Commission VIII of the DPR RI, urged the government not to rush into agreements that could erode national halal regulations. According to him, halal certification is an issue that goes far deeper than a mere label on product packaging.

“Halal certification should not be viewed as a trade barrier. Instead, it must be seen as a quality standard, a guarantee of legal certainty, and a pillar of national economic strength,” he stated on Sunday (Feb 22).

He noted a common misconception in discussions regarding halal certification—the assumption that these regulations are solely religious in nature. According to Singgih, the mandatory halal certification mandated by Law No. 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Assurance is not only a form of respect for the beliefs of Indonesia’s population (which is 87 percent Muslim) but also a key component of economic resilience.

“The global halal market is no longer a small niche. The value of global halal product spending exceeded US$3.1 trillion in the 2024–2025 period. Indonesia is not a minor player; we are recorded as the third-largest halal market in the world, with total consumption reaching US$282 billion in 2025,” he explained.

This means that weakening domestic halal standards is equivalent to weakening Indonesia’s bargaining position in the rapidly growing global halal market. Among the many sectors that could be affected, Singgih identified the poultry industry as the most vulnerable to this burden.

As a backbone of Indonesia’s animal-based food security, Ministry of Agriculture data shows that national broiler meat production remains stable at around 4.25 to 4.28 million tons per year.

“Behind those production figures are millions of people—small-scale farmers in remote areas, MSMEs processing products, and workers in poultry slaughterhouses. They all must be considered,” he said.

Singgih expressed concern that fairness would be lost if imported meat products from the U.S. receive special treatment, such as exemptions from halal certification, while domestic businesses are still required to meet all existing requirements.

“If that happens, prices at the farmer level could collapse due to a flood of imported products entering at lower costs. Consumer trust in the national halal assurance system could also be eroded. Trade policies must not undermine the resilience of the poultry industry,” Singgih asserted.

The Indonesian people, he added, have the right to a guarantee of the halal status of products circulating in the market, and that right cannot be used as a negotiation commodity. Every international agreement signed by the government must align with existing national laws and regulations.

“National interests, food security, and consumer protection must remain the top priorities. Indonesia must not merely be a market; it must remain a strong producer in the global halal industry,” Singgih concluded.

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