JAKARTA – Indonesia’s ambitious push to expand halal certification among micro and small enterprises is gaining remarkable momentum, with food and beverage businesses emerging as the primary beneficiaries of the government’s free certification initiative.

The Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) launched its 2025 Free Halal Certification (SEHATI) program with an unprecedented target of one million certifications. This initiative represents a strategic effort to democratize halal certification by removing financial barriers that previously prevented smaller businesses from obtaining official halal status.

Breaking Down Barriers to Certification

The SEHATI program revolutionizes the certification process by introducing self-declaration mechanisms and providing comprehensive guidance to micro and small enterprises. This approach significantly reduces both the complexity and cost traditionally associated with halal certification, making it accessible to businesses that previously couldn’t afford the process.

By August 11, 2025, more than half a million certifications had already been processed, with 504,634 businesses successfully obtaining halal status. This remarkable uptake demonstrates the pent-up demand among small enterprises for official halal recognition, leaving nearly 495,366 opportunities still available for eligible businesses nationwide.

Food Service Sector Dominates Applications

The data reveals fascinating insights into which business categories are most eager to obtain halal certification. Food and beverage enterprises overwhelmingly lead adoption rates, suggesting these sectors recognize the competitive advantages that halal certification provides.

Processed Food and Beverage Services: The Clear Leader

Leading all categories, processed food and beverage service providers have submitted an impressive 295,043 applications. This category encompasses a diverse range of establishments including restaurants, cafeterias, food stalls, street food vendors, catering services, and institutional food providers.

These businesses understand that halal certification extends beyond religious compliance to encompass broader quality assurance principles. The certification process requires establishments to maintain rigorous standards throughout their operations, from ingredient sourcing through food preparation and service delivery.

For restaurant owners and food service providers, halal certification offers multiple benefits: enhanced consumer confidence, access to Muslim customer segments, improved operational standards, and potential for expansion into halal-focused markets.

Bakery Products: Strong Second Place

Bakery and confectionery businesses represent the second-largest group, with 143,903 registrations. This category includes traditional bread products, specialty baked goods, and diverse confections ranging from traditional Indonesian sweets like dodol and onde-onde to modern pastries and ready-to-eat desserts.

The strong participation from bakery businesses reflects the sector’s recognition that many ingredients commonly used in baking—including certain additives, flavorings, and processing aids—require careful halal compliance verification.

Beverage Processing: Growing Recognition

Processed beverage manufacturers occupy third position with 80,976 applications. This segment spans from basic products like bottled water and fruit juices to complex beverages including coffee preparations, dairy products, soft drinks, and traditional Indonesian beverages such as wedang jahe.

The beverage industry’s participation highlights awareness that halal certification extends beyond obvious animal-derived ingredients to encompass processing methods, equipment cleaning protocols, and additive sourcing.

Ready-to-Eat Snacks: Capturing Market Share

Snack food manufacturers have submitted 80,554 applications, representing the fourth-largest category. This diverse segment includes potato chips, traditional Indonesian snacks, popcorn, crackers, biscuits, seafood-based products, and various nut preparations.

The snack industry’s enthusiastic participation reflects understanding that halal certification can differentiate products in increasingly competitive markets while opening access to export opportunities in Muslim-majority countries.

Processed Cereals: Foundation Foods

Cereal-based processed foods round out the top five categories with 32,002 registrations. This segment encompasses convenience foods built around grains and cereals, including instant rice products, ready-to-eat porridge, pasta, instant noodles, and processed soy products like tofu.

These foundation food categories recognize that halal certification provides consumer assurance about ingredient sourcing and processing methods, particularly important for products that may contain various additives and flavor enhancers.

Strategic Implications for Indonesian Business

The overwhelming response to the SEHATI program reveals several important trends shaping Indonesia’s halal economy. First, small and micro enterprises increasingly recognize halal certification as a competitive advantage rather than merely a religious requirement.

Second, food and beverage sectors understand that halal certification opens doors to both domestic Muslim consumers and international export markets. As global halal food markets expand rapidly, Indonesian businesses with proper certification gain access to lucrative opportunities across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions with significant Muslim populations.

Third, the self-declaration approach pioneered by SEHATI demonstrates that simplified certification processes can dramatically increase adoption rates without compromising standards. This model could serve as a template for other countries seeking to expand halal certification among smaller enterprises.

Looking Forward: Expanding Opportunities

With nearly half a million certification slots still available in the 2025 SEHATI program, opportunities remain substantial for businesses across Indonesia. The online registration system through SIHALAL (ptsp.halal.go.id) provides accessible pathways for enterprises ready to enhance their market positioning through official halal recognition.

The program’s success suggests that removing financial barriers to halal certification unleashes significant entrepreneurial energy among Indonesian micro and small enterprises. As these newly certified businesses compete more effectively in domestic markets and explore export opportunities, they contribute to Indonesia’s broader economic development goals while strengthening the country’s position in the global halal economy.

For Indonesian entrepreneurs, the message is clear: halal certification represents not just religious compliance, but strategic business positioning in rapidly growing domestic and international markets. The SEHATI program provides an unprecedented opportunity to gain this competitive advantage at no direct cost, making it an essential consideration for any food or beverage business seeking sustainable growth.

Original article:

kumparan.com. (n.d.). Produk Kuliner Terbanyak yang Didaftarkan Lewat Program Sertifikasi Halal Gratis. Retrieved August 26, 2025, from https://kumparan.com/kumparanfood/produk-kuliner-terbanyak-yang-didaftarkan-lewat-program-sertifikasi-halal-gratis-25ivErUoFaR