Indonesia and Sweden have signed a mutual recognition agreement for halal certification, aiming to facilitate bilateral trade and strengthen cooperation in the halal products sector.

The agreement was signed by Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and Sweden’s halal certification body. It allows both countries to recognize halal certificates issued by the other side in accordance with their respective laws and regulations.

BPJPH Chairman Ahmad Haikal Hasan said the agreement would streamline halal trade while ensuring quality standards and religious compliance. He said the partnership also supports Indonesia’s efforts to expand international cooperation in halal product assurance and develop the broader halal industry.

Hasan noted that halal standards increasingly extend beyond religious requirements to include transparency, traceability, reliability, health and quality, helping halal products compete in global markets.

Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia Daniel Blockert said the agreement would strengthen economic ties between the two countries and support the development of internationally aligned halal standards.

Aso Asinger, executive director of Sweden’s halal certification body, called the agreement an important milestone, saying recognition by Indonesian authorities would open new opportunities for Swedish companies seeking access to the Indonesian market.

Under the agreement, the Swedish halal authority will issue certificates in accordance with Indonesian standards, oversee verification procedures and submit required information to Indonesia’s SIHALAL system. Indonesia, in turn, will officially recognize approved certificates issued by the Swedish body.