Implementation of self-declare policy in halal certification in Indonesia: challenges, policy model, and integration of maqāṣid al-sharīʿa

Purpose This study aims to examine the implementation of Indonesia’s self-declared halal certification policy for micro and small enterprises (MSE), identifies its challenges and proposes a policy framework that integrates maqāṣid al-sharīʿa principles to improve its effectiveness, equity and compliance. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study was conducted among halal certification institutions (LP3H) in Java: State Islamic University (UIN) Walisongo Semarang, State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Institute of Islamic Studies (IAI) Ngawi and State Islamic University (UIN) Raden Mas Said Surakarta. This study included LP3H managers, three halal product process assistants (PPH) who mentored more than 500 MSEs and seven MSE owners from Ponorogo in food production. MSE participants were identified through field outreach and the 3rd National Coordination Meeting of LP3H in Jakarta on June 7, 2024, which revealed 20 cases of administrative and substantive errors in self-declare. Data collection involved interviews, focus group discussions and field observations, including the socialization of Sertifikasi Halal Gratis (SEHATI; Free Halal Certification) services conducted by the Ponorogo Halal Center. Findings The implementation faces structural and operational bottlenecks, including inadequate coordination among LP3H, PPH and MSE actors, a disconnect between strategic aims (consumer protection and economic empowerment) and practices and weak supervisory mechanisms. These gaps constrain inclusive participation and halal compliance. This study advances a public policy framework grounded in maqāṣid al-sharīʿa that emphasizes collaborative governance, regulatory clarity and balanced ethical and economic objectives. Research limitations/implications This study had certain limitations that should be considered. The analysis focused on LP3H and PPH in Java, which may not fully represent the conditions in other regions of Indonesia. In addition, it examined only the self-declared halal certification scheme and did not compare it with the regular certification process. Future research could address these limitations by including a broader geographic scope, involving a larger and more diverse range of institutions and incorporating a comparative analysis of different certification models to provide a more comprehensive understanding of policy implementation and its impacts. Practical implications First, regulatory bodies must standardize the Indonesian Standard Industrial Classification (KBLI) and establish minimum documentation standards across all LP3H institutions to prevent inconsistent halal governance outcomes. Second, at the institutional level, sustained multisector collaboration between the Government of Indonesia, universities and religious organizations is essential for building field-level capacity that goes beyond compliance targets. Third, from a normative standpoint, the maqāṣid al-sharīʿa framework must serve not only as an evaluative lens but also as a design principle for future policy reforms, ensuring that consumer protection and social justice remain central to halal governance. Theoretically, this study contributes by repositioning the maqāṣid al-sharīʿa framework from a purely evaluative lens into a design principle for halal policy and advances the literature on assisted self-declaration by specifying the institutional conditions under which decentralized certification can remain credible. For future research, these implications open avenues for testing the framework across sectors and comparative work on how the ethical-economic balance is sustained in different regulatory settings. Originality/value Existing research has focused on regulation, technology and institutional reform in halal certification; however, little attention has been paid to how Indonesia’s self-declared model works in practice in Indonesia. This study addresses this gap by foregrounding MSE experiences and institutional responses from LP3H and PPH and proposing a maqāṣid-based framework to strengthen the field-level implementation and consumer trust.