Can I export food, coffee, or handicrafts from Indonesia, without BPOM or Halal?

So, here's the answer: if you're exporting from Indonesia, especially food or drink, you don’t always need BPOM or Halal certification right away — but it depends on your buyer’s country.

For example, if you're sending small quantities of coffee beans or dried herbs to the U.S. or Europe as samples or direct-to-consumer sales, many small-scale exporters do it under a personal shipment or via export aggregators. No BPOM? No problem, for now. But the moment you scale or work B2B, the rules change. Some countries require FDA registration, health certificates, or Halal certification, especially for Muslim-majority nations like Malaysia, Brunei, or Middle Eastern countries. But some imports without halal may be permitted in some nations, such as the US or Europe, but safety certificates, labeling conformity, or GACC (especially for China) are still required.

What about the handicrafts? It's good news: you're basically in the clear. Woodcrafts, fabrics, and bags often do not require BPOM or Halal certification, unless they incorporate food-related aspects. However, if they are used products, the export procedure may necessitate extra documentation, such as SNI (Standar Nasional Indonesia) certification for certain regulated commodities, fumigation or phytosanitary certifications for wood-based items, or particular licenses for second-hand exports. Some importing nations may additionally demand their own quality or safety certificates (for example, CE marking in Europe or CPSIA compliance in the United States), so always verify your destination market's standards before exporting.

So, should you skip BPOM and Halal? Not exactly. You can start exporting without them in certain cases, especially if:

• You work with an export aggregator that handles compliance
• You’re sending under 1 kg as a sample or gift
• Your buyer accepts the risk and knows the product isn’t certified yet

But long-term? Get certified. BPOM and Halal open doors. They tell global buyers: “I’m serious. My product is safe. It meets standards.” Plus, getting these certifications early makes it easier to scale when opportunity knocks.

What can ZendEase assist you with? We manage customs clearance using our company's exporter license, so you do not need to have one. We create the Export Declaration (PEB) and may arrange for additional documentation such as Halal certification, FDA registration, BPOM approval, health certificates, and other needs like SNI, fumigation, or phytosanitary certifications. If your cargo includes used goods, regulated commodities, or things that require specific permissions, we will handle them as well, ensuring that your export goes smoothly, legally, and without incident.

Are you ready to export your products? Get in touch with us at indonesia@zendease.com. You focus on creating — we take care of the export process from A to Z.