HALAL CERTIFICATION AND MUSLIM CONSUMER PROTECTION SOCIOLOGICAL JURIDICAL STUDIES IN HALAL CULINARY AREAS TULUNGAGUNG REGENCY

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of halal certification as a form of protection for Muslim consumers and to reveal the social factors and legal awareness that influence business compliance in the Tulungagung halal culinary sector. Although regulations on halal certification requirements have been enforced through Law No. 33 of 2014, implementation at the micro level still faces obstacles from both businesses and consumers. Many business actors have not yet obtained halal certificates, while consumers do not demand guarantees of product halalness. The research uses a qualitative juridical-sociological approach with data collection techniques in the form of in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and field documentation during the period of July 2025. Data analysis was conducted using an interactive approach through the stages of data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing, using Satjipto Rahardjo's Legal Awareness theory as the main foundation and the Maslahah Mursalah principle as support. It was found that business actors consider halal certification to be an administrative burden, not part of their sharia responsibilities or business strategy. Consumers rely more on social trust than on the formal legality of products. Regulations have not been internalized in the legal culture of society. Halal certification has not become a collective consciousness among either business actors or consumers. Regulations are implemented without strong social control. Therefore, community- based educational strategies and local value approaches are needed so that halal regulations can become an effective and sustainable instrument for protecting Muslim consumers