Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization slams US’ criticisms

Despite recent criticism from the United States, protecting citizens from consuming products, food, and beverages that do not abide by halal regulations should be Indonesia’s priority, as stated by Nadhlatul Ulama (NU).

NU Chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, said the government must stand their ground on halal certification requirements imposed on imported goods. 

“The United States may voice its concerns, but we have the sovereign right to implement regulations that protect our people,” Yahya said.

The chairman of the largest Indonesia muslim organization emphasised that halal certification is a legitimate and necessary policy in a country with muslim-majority population.

2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program

“It’s completely reasonable for the public to demand halal regulations, and the government must respond to those aspirations,” Yahya  as reported by Jakarta Globe ID.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) who underlined Indonesia’s halal requirements in its latest foreign trade barriers report said, Indonesia currently requires a wide range of goods to be halal certified such as food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices.

The regulations are based on Law No. 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance, which mandates that all business processes including production, storage, packaging, distribution, and marketing comply to halal standards.

In response, the USTR categorized Indonesia’s mandatory halal certification as a “technical barrier to trade” for US exports.

Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman, Yahya Cholil Staquf (photo credit: Bayt ar-Rahmah)

However, Yahya disregarded the US’ retaliation as being solely driven by trade interests while feigning ignorance on the religious values behind Indonesia’s regulations.

He also stated that several Muslim-majority countries enforce even stricter halal regimes than Indonesia.

“They’re free to sell products here, as long as they meet our regulations. Products without halal labels can still be sold, but they can’t be marketed as halal. It’s that simple,” he said.

The USTR report also criticizes Indonesia for finalizing numerous regulations without notifying the World Trade Organization (WTO) or seeking input from stakeholders ahead of time as per the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.

Halal standards require utmost cleanliness, safety and adherence to abstain from including non-halal contaminants (photo credit: LinkedIn Dr. Manesh S.)

“Indeed, over the past five years, Indonesia has demonstrated a pattern of notifying Halal Law implementing measures to the WTO only after they have already entered into force,” it said.  

The report highlighted other concerns as well, such as expansion on the range of products that require halal certification as decreed by the Religious Affairs Ministry.

In addition, the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) has issued separate regulations on the accreditation of foreign halal certifiers and conformity assessments.

According to the USTR, these rules impose redundant paperwork, complex auditor requirements, and rigid scope-to-auditor ratios that are driving up compliance costs and delaying the accreditation process for US exporters.