Does Halal Certification Policy Through Self-Declare Effective at Attracting More Halal-Certified MSEs? Evidence from Indonesia

This study aims to determine the extent to which the effectiveness of the halal assurance system through efforts to self-declare SME halal certification is relevant to the assistance of the halal production process (PPH) in East Java. This research was conducted from August 2022 to December 2022 using primary data obtained from interviews with experts consisting of BPJPH, halal assistants, and SMEs that have participated in halal certification. The data were analyzed with descriptive qualitative methods. The results of this study state that for the four indicators of program effectiveness, namely indicators of program target accuracy and program monitoring indicators, the categories are quite effective. Meanwhile, indicators of program socialization and indicators of program objectives are categorized as ineffective. This ineffectiveness is due to the non-achievement of the target of the halal certification program in 2022 which is due to the lack of optimal PPH assistants in carrying out assistance to business actors. This research can be used by policymakers to make improvements to make halal certification more effective according to the findings of this study. This research is the first research related to the halal certification program through self-declared after the implementation of halal certification through self-declared in 2022.