Indonesia and Australia have formalised a strategic partnership on halal product assurance, signing a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to deepen regulatory cooperation, streamline halal certification processes and expand bilateral trade in halal-certified products.
The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration between Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), reflecting both countries' growing commitment to strengthening the global halal economy while supporting exporters and food producers operating across international markets.
The partnership is expected to facilitate the movement of halal-certified goods by promoting closer alignment between the two countries' halal assurance systems. Through enhanced technical dialogue, information exchange and institutional cooperation, both governments aim to improve regulatory transparency, strengthen consumer confidence and create more predictable market access for businesses engaged in halal trade.
The MoU also provides a formal mechanism for recognising Australian foreign halal certification bodies in accordance with Indonesia's regulatory framework, supporting smoother certification pathways for products entering the Indonesian market while reinforcing compliance with national halal standards.
Beyond trade facilitation, the agreement outlines broader cooperation in technical consultations, research and development, technology exchange, infrastructure enhancement and human resource capacity building. Regular institutional engagement is expected to strengthen implementation while supporting the continued evolution of halal assurance systems in both countries.
The initiative further reinforces the economic relationship established under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) and complements the broader Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. By integrating regulatory cooperation with trade facilitation, both governments aim to unlock new commercial opportunities for halal-certified food, agricultural and consumer products.
Commenting on the agreement, Ahmad Haikal Hasan, Head of Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), said the partnership would strengthen technical cooperation while expanding opportunities for halal-certified products in both markets. "Through stronger technical dialogue, capacity building, and information exchange, we can enhance confidence, support the development of the halal ecosystem, and expand market access for high-quality halal products in both countries."
Hasan added that harmonising halal assurance systems would further strengthen trust among businesses and consumers while supporting the development of a more integrated and globally competitive halal ecosystem. Australia's Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, described Indonesia as one of Australia's most important strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly for food and agricultural trade.
"The agreement will provide greater certainty for businesses in both countries, strengthen bilateral trade ties, and create broader opportunities for halal-certified products to enter each other's markets." The agreement will remain in force for five years, with the option for extension by mutual consent, providing a long-term platform for expanding cooperation as global demand for halal-certified products continues to accelerate.
