Earlier this month, the government said that it had speeded up deliberation on a bill on halal certification that had met with vociferous opposition from businesses, who argued that the new rule would increase costs.
Under the planned law, halal certificates and labels will be required for three sectors: F&B, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This would apply not only to all ingredients but also the equipment used during production.
The law would also call on a new compliance body, the National Halal Products Certification Agency, to oversee certification under the rules, while a religious body, the Indonesian Ulema Council, would set halal standards.
The bill, which was initiated by lawmakers and not the ruling government, was said to have been introduced to protect the Muslim majority of local consumers from products containing non-halal ingredients, such as pork and alcohol.
Make it voluntary, says food body
Food businesses in Indonesia are against the proposed law, whose mandatory application is backed by religious parties. Their contention is that for this bill to become a law, it must be amended to make halal certification of their products optional, not mandatory, as planned.
In a oral submission to the House of Representatives, Yusuf Hadi, the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association, said that lawmakers should not force local businesses to secure halal certificates.
“We remain firm in saying that the new law should not be mandatory for local firms. There is still a group of non-Muslims in the country that accounts for 10 per cent of the total population of 240 million people. We ought to not forget their needs,” Yusuf said.
Yusuf said that the new law, in its present state, would burden small and medium businesses. Local businesses currently spend between US$26 and US$416 per product to obtain halal certificates from the Ulema Council, albeit voluntarily.
A long drawn-out battle
The bill is being deliberated by a group of lawmakers and government ministers under House Commission VIII, which oversees religious affairs, and it is likely that a decision will be made in late October. However, the bill has been under deliberation since 2004.
The bill has political undertones mixed with religious and ideological leanings of the major parties. Groups like the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party are pushing for the new law to be made mandatory for local businesses that wish to sell their products to Muslim consumers.
In contrast, the more liberal and secular Democratic Party insists that the regulation be applied with a voluntary clause. For now, all eyes are on October 26, when the House Commission VIII is expected to give a ruling on the bill
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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