The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has achieved progress in easing export burdens for K-Beauty by reaching an agreement with the Indonesian government on improving halal certification procedures. With mandatory halal labeling for cosmetics set to take effect in October, the enhancements to certification processes and on-site inspection standards are expected to lower export barriers for domestic companies.
From July 20 to 22, the Ministry dispatched a joint public-private support team to Indonesia, where they held collaborative meetings with the Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) to address the challenges faced by South Korean companies in exporting their products.
Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is a key export market for K-Beauty, and the mandatory halal certification will begin in October. The support team's visit was aimed at responding to the upcoming requirement and alleviating the difficulties faced by local cosmetic companies.
The Ministry and the Halal Product Assurance Agency agreed to recognize that hiring Muslim halal supervisors is challenging in non-Muslim countries like South Korea. They decided to improve the system so that individuals who have completed recognized training can perform these duties.
Additionally, cosmetic manufacturing facilities that have already received halal certification will be exempt from on-site inspections even if the applicant (responsible seller, etc.) changes.
Before the mandatory halal labeling takes effect on October 18, the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority plans to negotiate with the Halal Product Assurance Agency to extend the grace period for products that have been legally imported and are already on the market.
Furthermore, the Ministry will provide guidance on the import regulations for market research and non-sale sample products, allowing for a maximum of 20 items per person to facilitate customs clearance for domestic companies.
Both agencies have agreed to operate a hotline and a working group for ongoing regulatory cooperation and plan to expand their collaboration to include procedures for referencing countries for pharmaceuticals.
The Ministry stated, "Through this agreement, we have rationally improved the halal certification process and alleviated the burdens on companies due to the mandatory labeling, while also negotiating improvements for products already in circulation. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with overseas regulatory authorities to actively support K-Beauty's entry into the global market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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