Navigating Halal Certification Costs and Pricing Strategies among Small-Scale Food Operators: A Systematic Mapping Study

Abstract

This study aims to systematically map and synthesize the development of research concerning halal certification costs and pricing strategies among small-scale halal food operators. The study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR), systematic mapping study, and bibliometric analysis of 336 Scopus-indexed journal articles. The literature selection process follows the PRISMA framework, while VOSviewer, Microsoft Excel 365, Mendeley, and Publish or Perish are used to identify research trends, keyword relationships, thematic clusters, and emerging research directions. The findings indicate that halal food research has evolved from a primary focus on religious compliance toward broader issues involving halal certification, halal supply chains, consumer trust, market access, competitiveness, pricing, and business sustainability. The mapping further reveals that certification generates both economic benefits and financial burdens for small-scale operators. Certification can strengthen consumer trust, product credibility, market access, and competitive positioning, but certification fees, administrative requirements, documentation, process adjustments, and other compliance costs may increase operating costs and create pressure on pricing decisions. The study identifies a critical trade-off between halal compliance, producer profitability, and consumer affordability. It further highlights the importance of institutional support, cost-efficient certification mechanisms, digitalization, and self-declared certification in reducing compliance burdens while maintaining credibility and accountability. The study contributes to the halal economy literature by proposing an integrated perspective linking halal certification costs, production costs, pricing strategies, consumer affordability, market performance, and business sustainability. Future research should empirically examine the economic return of halal certification, consumer willingness to pay, the effectiveness of government subsidies, and differences across business scales and institutional contexts.

References

Ahmad, A. N., Rahman, R. A., & Ab Rahman, S. (2020). Assessing halal certification challenges among small and medium-sized food enterprises. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 11(4), 891–906. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-03-2019-0048

Ali, M. H., & Suleiman, N. (2018). Sustainable food supply chain management: A review of models and practices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 181, 292–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.121

Ali, M. H., Tan, K. H., & Ismail, M. D. (2019). A supply chain integrity framework for halal food. British Food Journal, 121(1), 20–38. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-03-2018-0187

Anggriani, R., Utama, D., Warkoyo, W., Wahyudi, V. A., Hafid, I., Maulana, A. A., & Nafis, D. (2024). Halal certification awareness perceptions in Indonesian food SMEs: An investigation on understanding, knowledge, impact, and regulations. Jurnal Ilmiah Teknik Industri, 23(1), 162–172. https://doi.org/10.23917/jiti.v23i1.4461

Aprizal, A., Wiranatakusuma, D. B., & Kamil, I. (2024). Systematic literature review and mapping study as qualitative research approaches in socio-economic studies. Journal of Research Methodology in Social Sciences, 6(2), 85–99.

Aziz, Y. A., & Chok, N. V. (2013). The role of halal awareness, halal certification, and marketing components in determining halal purchase intention among non-Muslims in Malaysia: A structural equation modeling approach. Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing, 25(1), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974438.2013.723997

Beck, T., & Demirgüç-Kunt, A. (2006). Small and medium-size enterprises: Access to finance as a growth constraint. Journal of Banking & Finance, 30(11), 2931–2943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2006.05.009

Bonne, K., & Verbeke, W. (2008). Muslim consumer trust in halal meat status and control in Belgium. Meat Science, 79(1), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.08.007

Djakasaputra, A., Juliana, J., Aditi, B., Fachrurazi, F., & Mas’ad, M. A. (2023). The influence of halal certification, halal awareness, and brand image on interest in buying halal food products: An empirical study of consumers in Indonesia. International Journal of Islamic Business and Economics, 7(2), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.28918/ijibec.v7i2.2003

Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 133, 285–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070

Elseidi, R. I. (2018). Determinants of halal purchasing intentions: Evidence from the UK. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 9(1), 167–190. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-09-2016-0069

Fathoni, M. A., Priyatno, P. D., Faizi, F., Wiryanto, F. S., Rachbini, W., & Suryani, S. (2025). Unlocking barriers and strategies of halal certification for micro and small enterprises in Indonesia: Analytic network process approach. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 23(1), 169–180. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(1).2025.13

Farouk, M. M., Al-Mazeedi, H. M., Sabow, A. B., Bekhit, A. E. D., Adeyemi, K. D., Sazili, A. Q., & Ghani, A. (2014). Halal and kosher slaughter methods and meat quality: A review. Meat Science, 98(3), 505–519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.05.021

Fuseini, A., Knowles, T. G., Lines, J. A., Hadley, P. J., & Wotton, S. B. (2017). The stunning and slaughter of cattle within the EU: A review of the current situation. Meat Science, 124, 21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.10.016

Hassan, A., & Pandey, D. (2013). Islamic entrepreneurship model for SMEs in halal industry. International Journal of Business and Management, 8(17), 28–35. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v8n17p28

Khan, S. A. R., Haleem, A., & Khan, M. I. (2019). Risk management in halal supply chain: An integrated approach. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 10(2), 653–673. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-09-2017-0106

Lada, S., Tanakinjal, G. H., & Amin, H. (2009). Predicting intention to choose halal products using theory of reasoned action. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 2(1), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.1108/17538390910946276

Lee, S., & Chong, S. (2020). Halal compliance, food quality, and cost efficiency in small-scale food production. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 55(6), 2413–2421. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.14520

Maryati, T., Syarief, R., & Hasbullah, R. (2017). Analisis faktor kendala dalam pengajuan sertifikat halal: Studi kasus pelaku usaha mikro, kecil dan menengah makanan beku di Jabodetabek. Jurnal Ilmu Produksi dan Teknologi Hasil Peternakan, 5(1), 28–34.

Nawai, N., & Shariff, M. N. M. (2013). Loan repayment problems in microfinance programs that use individual lending approach: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Transformative Entrepreneurship, 1(1), 1–12.

Nurazira, S., Che Man, Y. B., & Rohman, A. (2011). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for halal authentication of food products. Food Chemistry, 128(3), 727–734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.03.044

Rahman, F., Noor, H. M., & Yusuf, M. (2022). Supply chain management and pricing strategy in halal food small enterprises. British Food Journal, 124(9), 2867–2883. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-08-2021-0904

Ramadhan, Y., Darmawan, R., Nasihin, A. K., & Sabani, N. (2024). Investigating the influence of halal certification on millennials’ purchase intention and brand loyalty in the Indonesian food industry. Indonesian Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship, 10(2), 444. https://doi.org/10.17358/ijbe.10.2.444

Rohman, A., Che Man, Y. B., & Hashim, P. (2014). Authentication of halal food products: Analytical approaches. Food Reviews International, 30(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2013.853763

Sahoo, S., Saraf, P., & Uchil, R. (2024). A PRISMA-based systematic literature review approach in management research. Management Review Quarterly, 74(1), 45–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-023-00328-5

Santoso, S., Alfarisah, S., Fatmawati, A. A., & Ubaidillah, R. (2021). Correlation analysis of the halal certification process and perceptions of the cost of halal certification with the intentions of food and beverage SMEs actors. Religious: Jurnal Studi Agama-Agama dan Lintas Budaya, 5(2), 297–308. https://doi.org/10.15575/rjsalb.v5i2.11627

Septiani, D., & Ridlwan, A. A. (2020). The effects of halal certification and halal awareness on purchase intention of halal food products in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Halal Research, 2(2), 55–60. https://doi.org/10.15575/ijhar.v2i2.6657

Soon, J. M., Chandia, M., & Mac Regenstein, J. (2017). Halal integrity in the food supply chain. British Food Journal, 119(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-04-2016-0150

Sucipto, S., Zubir, M., Astuti, R., & Sukoso, S. (2026). Analysis of self-declared halal certification in Indonesia: Regulation, barriers, and opportunity. Cogent Business & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2026.2660378

Talib, M. S. A., Hamid, A. B. A., & Chin, T. A. (2016). Can halal certification influence logistics performance? Journal of Islamic Marketing, 7(4), 461–475. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-02-2015-0015

Tieman, M. (2011a). The application of halal in supply chain management. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 41(7), 688–704. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600031111154148

Tieman, M. (2011b). The application of halal in supply chain management: In-depth interviews. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 2(2), 186–195. https://doi.org/10.1108/17590831111139893

Tieman, M. (2017). Halal supply chain management: Practices, challenges, and research opportunities. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 8(1), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-06-2015-0049

Tieman, M., van der Vorst, J. G. A. J., & Ghazali, M. C. (2012). Principles in halal supply chain management. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 3(3), 217–243. https://doi.org/10.1108/17590831211259727

Van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2023). VOSviewer manual: Visualizing scientific landscapes. Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University.

Wiranatakusuma, D. B., Aprizal, A., & Kamil, I. (2024). Mapping contemporary research trends using systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. Sustainability Analytics Journal, 5(1), 12–27.

Wilson, J. A. J., & Liu, J. (2010). Shaping the halal into a brand. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 1(2), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1108/17590831011055851

Wilson, J. A. J., & Liu, J. (2011). The challenges of Islamic branding: Navigating emotions and halal certification. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 2(1), 28–42. https://doi.org/10.1108/17590831111115222

Zuhroh, D. (2022). Analisis konten kualitatif dalam penelitian sosial dan ekonomi. Jurnal Metodologi Penelitian Sosial, 5(1), 1–12.

Zultaqawa, S., Alexandri, M. B., & Hardinata, D. (2019). Systematic mapping study in economic and business research: Trends and future directions. International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 18(4), 455–470. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEBR.2019.103173

Zupic, I., & Čater, T. (2015). Bibliometric methods in management and organization. Organizational Research Methods, 18(3), 429–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629