Halal begins with the consumer, not just the logo

A young mother stood for quite some time in front of a supermarket shelf, comparing two nearly identical products. The prices were not far apart and the packaging was equally eye-catching, but this time she was in no rush to choose. She turned the packaging over, checked for the halal logo, and then read the product information carefully. Afterwards, she opened her mobile phone to verify the halal certificate status through the official service. Only after obtaining certainty did she make her choice and place the product into her shopping basket. That simple scene could become the new face of Indonesian consumer behaviour after 18 October 2026. That date not only marks the start of mandatory halal certification for various product groups, but also the starting point of a shift in consumer mindset: from merely buying to choosing consciously, critically, and responsibly. The government has built a legal foundation through Law Number 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance, which was later refined through Law Number 6 of 2023 and further regulated in Government Regulation Number 42 of 2024. This series of regulations affirms the obligation of halal certification for certain products in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations in force in Indonesia. Over the past few months, public attention has mostly focused on the readiness of business operators. Various outreach efforts have been carried out by the Halal Product Assurance Organising Body (BPJPH), ministries, regional governments, universities, professional organisations, and business associations. All are moving to ensure the halal obligation runs smoothly. These steps certainly deserve appreciation. However, there is one link in the chain that is often overlooked in discussions, namely the consumer as the rights holder and the party who most feels the benefits of a halal product assurance system. In fact, the history of consumer protection in various countries shows that good regulation is never sufficient if the public remains passive. Halal-certified products do provide legal certainty, but public trust is not born merely from a piece of certificate or a logo on the packaging. Trust grows when consumers understand the meaning of certification, are able to read product information, know how to verify the validity of certificates, and dare to report any suspected violations. In other words, halal certification must be accompanied by a transformation of consumer culture.