The Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) recently sent in a 21-page draft decree to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) specifying the implementation of what it has dubbed the Halal Product Assurance System (SJPH) for Genetically Modified Products, demonstrating a major step in its commitment to maintaining the halal quality and status of all food products within its ecosystem.
According to Head of BPJPH Ahmad Haikal Hasan, this will be part of the wider national halal management system (SJPH) covering the entire production chain from ingredients, processing, storage, distribution, and product presentation through to consumers.
“In the production process of genetically modified or engineered products, a system is required that can guarantee the halal status of products continuously, not just during initial [or final product] certification,” Ahmad Haikal stated via formal documentation.
“The SJPH plays a strategic role here because genetic engineering techniques involve the manipulation of organisms and materials that require more in-depth halal verification, [and it is crucial to] ensure that these biotechnological innovations remain in line with Shariah principles, so as to provide certainty and confidence to consumers.”
The SJPH guidelines for GM products cover both general requirements such as appointing certified halal supervisors or management teams across all businesses, as well as specific food business requirements specifying that GM foods come with effective recall measures once proven to cause ‘negative impacts’.
Future-proofing halal GM rules
In addition, the new draft decree has gone down into the details of microorganisms used for food production, whether in simple fermentation or precision fermentation processes — this essentially shuts down all potential future confusion over ‘how far back’ halal ingredients and processing methods need to be used in the production chain.
“Basically, all GM microorganisms and/or products derived from microorganisms that utilize pork as a growth medium are haram, but if these microbes can be separated from the medium and purified accordingly, they are halal,” he added.
“But of course, microbial materials used to make products using GM methods must not contain genes from pigs or humans, and the master seed storage medium must use halal media.”
Packaging for GM foods
Interestingly, when it comes to GM food packaging, BPJPH has not yet laid out specific labelling requirements but instead mandated that information about the halal-ness of the product is highlighted.
“In the case of packaging GM products, firms must use packaging materials that are not made from or contain non-halal materials, and must ensure the design of their packaging, signs, symbols, logos, names, and images that do not conflict with Islamic law or the prevailing ethics and propriety prevailing in society,” Ahmad Haikal added.
“A halal label must be included on halal-certified products, on specific parts and locations of the product packaging that are easily visible and readable, and cannot be easily removed, removed, or damaged.”
The only mention of potential GM information is that the firms must also ‘ensure traceability of information on the origin of materials in all activities’.
The draft decree is currently still open for public comment until October 27 2026. All comments can be sent to the National Standardization Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BSN) for consideration via this email.
Further regulation is expected to be forthcoming particularly for the food sector once the draft decree is enforced, which will cover even more details and specifications for various points throughout the production chain such as GM ingredients, GM processing aids, GM food product labelling, and GM packaged food end-products.
