Halal certification across Southeast Asia: what exporters need to know about BPJPH, JAKIM and CICOT
Indonesia's mandatory certification rollout, Malaysia's JAKIM standard and Thailand's export-oriented CICOT process each shape market access differently. A working primer for exporters.
By Food Souq Editorial
Nov 12, 2026 • 7 min read
Halal certification is not a single global standard. Across Southeast Asia — home to the largest Muslim populations in the world — three regulators dominate the conversation, and each treats certification differently.
Indonesia — mandatory certification under BPJPH
Under Law No. 33 of 2014, Indonesia moved from voluntary to mandatory halal certification, administered by the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) within the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Food and beverage categories entered the mandatory phase in October 2024, with subsequent phases covering cosmetics, medicines and other categories on staggered deadlines.
Malaysia — JAKIM as an internationally recognised benchmark
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) operates one of the most widely recognised halal certification frameworks in the world. JAKIM also maintains a list of foreign halal certification bodies it recognises, which many exporters use as a starting point when planning multi-market entry.
Thailand — CICOT and an export-first posture
The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) issues halal certification through its Halal Standard Institute. Thailand is a net exporter of processed food, and CICOT's process is oriented around helping non-Muslim-majority manufacturers meet the documentation expectations of importing markets.
- Map each destination market to a specific regulator before designing packaging or supply-chain flows
- Confirm whether your local certifier is recognised by the destination country (particularly for JAKIM and SASO)
- Plan renewal cycles and audit windows into product launch timelines
