Indonesia and New Zealand sign halal cooperation agreement

Indonesia and New Zealand signed a halal cooperation agreement on June 16 to ease export procedures for red meat and dairy products. The development comes as the Southeast Asian nation prepares to enforce mandatory halal certification for most consumer goods by the end of 2026.

The arrangement will streamline certification and product assurance processes, allowing New Zealand exporters to better align with Indonesia’s evolving halal regulations.

New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, said the agreement was part of the government’s broader strategy to expand trade opportunities and boost returns for exporters. He added that Indonesia presented a significant market with a population of 280 million and a growing middle class. Last year alone, it imported more than 1.1 billion New Zealand dollars ($664 million) in New Zealand dairy and meat products. 

The new agreement comes as Indonesia implements the phased rollout of its halal product assurance law, requiring most domestically sold and imported goods to be halal-certified by the end of 2026. Industry stakeholders have previously flagged the certification process as a potential trade barrier if mutual recognition mechanisms are not in place.

According to officials, the cooperation is expected to support smoother market access for New Zealand producers while helping ensure compliance with Indonesia’s regulatory framework. It may also strengthen New Zealand’s positioning as a supplier of high-quality, halal-compliant food products to Indonesia.

Further details of the arrangement, including recognition of halal certifying bodies and implementation timelines, are expected to be clarified in upcoming bilateral discussions.