KNEKS Urges Halal Products to Become Quality Assurance, Not Just a Label

Halal products are considered insufficient if they merely meet certification requirements. The halal label must also serve as a quality guarantee, thereby enhancing consumer trust while strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market. This was conveyed by Putu Rahwidhiyasa, Director of Sharia Business and Entrepreneurship and Acting Director of the Halal Product Industry at the National Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS), during the Islamic Finance Dialogue (IFD) as part of the Indonesia Sharia Forum (ISF) 2026 in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/7/2026). According to Putu, the perception of halal products needs to change. Halal is not only synonymous with religious aspects but also reflects quality, safety, cleanliness, and traceable production processes. ‘Halal products should not just be seen as a label. Halal must become a symbol of quality so that it provides added value and increases consumer trust,’ Putu said. He noted that the trend of halal product consumption continues to grow in various countries, including those with non-Muslim majority populations. Therefore, Indonesian business actors need to seize this opportunity by presenting products that not only meet halal standards but also possess the quality to compete in the international market. According to Putu, the development of the halal ecosystem does not stop at product certification. Its development must encompass sharia-compliant financing, business conduct, and supply chain strengthening to generate greater economic value. ‘First, the goods and services must be halal. Second, the financing. After that, business conduct. Once all of that is in place, we will have a complete sharia economic ecosystem,’ he said. At the same forum, LPPOM President Director Muti Arintawati stated that halal certification should be viewed as part of a quality assurance system, not just an administrative obligation. According to her, consistency in maintaining production processes according to halal standards is a crucial factor in retaining consumer trust. Putu added that strengthening the quality of halal products is an important step to enhance the competitiveness of the national industry. With maintained quality, Indonesian halal products are expected to expand their market, both domestically and globally.