Halal Self-Declare Intention and Reported Certification Engagement Among Indonesian Micro and Small Enterprises

Halal self-declare certification provides a simplified assurance pathway for eligible Indonesian micro and small enterprises (MSEs). This study examines self-declare intention and reported certification engagement among business actors who have experience with this pathway. Research Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted among 132 MSE owners or managers who had completed or were undergoing certification, selected through purposive sampling and surveyed with a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were applied to an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model incorporating halal awareness and religiosity. Results and Discussion: Attitude, halal awareness, and religiosity were positively associated with intention. Subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were not significantly associated with intention, while perceived behavioral control and intention were positively associated with reported engagement. Religiosity had the largest intention coefficient, and intention had the largest engagement coefficient. Average variance extracted and composite reliability supported convergent validity and internal consistency, although the conceptual proximity of intention and engagement warrants cautious interpretation. Conclusion: The findings highlight the complementary motivational and practical dimensions of engagement among certification-exposed MSEs and identify halal literacy and procedural assistance as relevant priorities for program evaluation. The cross-sectional design, purposive sample, and self-reported measures limit causal interpretation and generalization.