The Halal food market is undergoing significant changes in demand and new standard regulations, shifting from simple certification requirements to comprehensive supply chain control, enhanced management of certification bodies, and transaction data oversight.

On April 6, the Government issued Decree No. 127/2026/ND-CP, providing regulations on quality management and development policies for Halal products and services. This creates a legal framework to encourage investment, promote production and business, and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's Halal industry.

Comprehensive standard elevation

Ms. Nguyen Thị Ngoc Hang, Marketing Director of the Vietnam Halal Certification Office, stated: Under Law No. 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance, Government Regulation No. 39/2021, and Regulation No. 42/2024, Indonesia applies a mandatory Halal management mechanism for all products circulating in the market, where imported goods must fully meet certification requirements. For imported food, the latest deadline for compliance is October 17, 2026. After this point, products without valid Halal certification will not be permitted to circulate in the Indonesian market or may be handled according to legal regulations.

The management and licensing of Halal certification in Indonesia are conducted by the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH) under the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs. This is also the focal point for managing the entire national Halal system, including the accreditation of foreign certification bodies and the issuance of Halal registration numbers for imported products. To fully meet these requirements, Vietnamese enterprises need to implement synchronized steps, from certification in Vietnam to registration in Indonesia.

First, enterprises must be certified by a Halal organization recognized by BPJPH under a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) mechanism to ensure alignment with Indonesia's Halal program. Subsequently, the importer or legal representative in Indonesia will perform registration on the SIHALAL system to be issued a foreign Halal certificate registration number. This process includes document submission, verification, payment, and approval by BPJPH before the product is allowed for circulation. Furthermore, products entering the market must be labeled correctly, using the Indonesian Halal logo accompanied by the certificate registration number.

In reality, many Vietnamese enterprises are facing difficulties during implementation due to choosing certification bodies not recognized by Indonesia, or submitting incomplete or inconsistent applications on the SIHALAL system. This leads to rejections or the need to restart the entire process, incurring additional costs and affecting delivery schedules.

Meanwhile, the Halal market in the Middle East is also entering a stage of comprehensive standard elevation. Mr. Truong Xuan Trung, in charge of the Vietnam Trade Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), informed: While Halal was previously understood mainly as a religious standard for food, the concept has now expanded into many fields, closely linked with organic, non-GMO, and absolute food safety standards. New standards are increasingly associated with "Green Halal" factors, including products with biodegradable packaging, low carbon emissions, plant-based foods, and a focus on product localization.

In addition, traceability requirements are being heightened through the application of digital technologies such as QR codes or blockchain in supply chain control. Furthermore, packaging design needs to utilize dual languages (English-Arabic) and use imagery appropriate for Islamic customs. With the development of e-commerce—where over 80% of Halal consumer goods transactions occur via super-apps—the UAE is also deploying electronic invoicing systems and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency for all transactions in the supply chain, creating a new standard benchmark in the Middle East that requires businesses to adapt quickly.

Enhancing market access capacity

Faced with the reality of constantly updated and supplemented standards, Mr. Le Viet Anh, General Secretary of the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association, recommended that enterprises exporting to Indonesia proactively review their compliance conditions before October 17, 2026. They must also select the correct Halal certification units recognized by Indonesia, coordinate closely with import partners during the registration process, and prepare full documentation and production processes to ensure regulatory compliance.

Meanwhile, according to the Vietnam Business Council in the UAE, Vietnamese enterprises have yet to effectively access the Middle Eastern Halal market. The reasons include attempting to enter the market without valid Halal certification and inaccurately assessing price structures and logistics costs, which reduces product competitiveness. Another limitation is the lack of reliable local partners to support distribution, causing market access to be interrupted. Notably, the "quick sell" expectation is an inappropriate approach, as the Middle Eastern market requires time to build trust and stable distribution systems.

To improve adaptability to market factors, Mr. Ta Xuan Hien, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Business Council in the UAE, suggested: Since customers in the Halal chain are mainly intermediary partners such as importers, distributors, retail systems, or the HORECA sector (hotels, restaurants, catering), businesses must build relationships with distribution systems from the start rather than just focusing on the product. This optimizes costs and enhances competitiveness.

"First, complete Halal certification and select suitable products. Next, send samples and participate in trade promotion activities to explore the market. From there, shift the focus to seeking potential distributors and move toward signing contracts for the first orders. If the market is stable, businesses can expand their scale and increase their presence in the region," Mr. Hien emphasized.

Source: Bao Nhan Dan