Role of Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA) in the Control and Supervision of Product Halal-ness

  • Vionita Baros
    Institut Islam Al-Mujaddid Sabak (IIMS) Tanjung Jabung Timur, Indonesia
  • Zaenal Abidin
    Institut Islam Al-Mujaddid Sabak (IIMS) Tanjung Jabung Timur, Indonesia
  • Zeni Sunarti
    Institut Islam Al-Mujaddid Sabak (IIMS) Tanjung Jabung Timur, Indonesia
  • Niskaromah
    Institut Islam Al-Mujaddid Sabak (IIMS) Tanjung Jabung Timur, Indonesia

Abstract

This study examines the role of the Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA) in controlling and supervising the halal status of products at the local level, using KUA Mendahara (Mendahara Ilir subdistrict) as a case study. Motivated by persistent implementation challenges in Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance system, the research aims to clarify how KUA contributes to ensuring that halal certification follows regulatory requirements and how it monitors certified products in practice. Employing a qualitative case-study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, direct field observation, and document analysis, and were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal four principal functions performed by KUA: disseminating information and conducting outreach on halal certification; providing technical guidance and administrative assistance to MSMEs during the certification process; coordinating cross-institutional activities with BPJPH, MUI, and local health authorities; and carrying out post-certification monitoring through field visits and administrative checks. The study demonstrates that KUA operates as a critical institutional intermediary between national policy and local practice. Theoretically, the research extends institutional perspectives to religious local institutions in halal governance; practically, it offers evidence-based recommendations to strengthen KUA capacity and interagency collaboration to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of Indonesia’s halal assurance system.

Keywords

Halal Certification; Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA); Product Supervision; MSME facilitation; Institutional Intermediary.

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References

Ab Mahmmood, A., & Fraser, K. (2023). Determinants of halal certification adoption among SMEs: Evidence from Malaysia. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0290774. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290774
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Published & Citation

2025-11-01

How to Cite

Vionita Baros, Zaenal Abidin, Zeni Sunarti, & Niskaromah. (2025). Role of Kantor Urusan Agama (KUA) in the Control and Supervision of Product Halal-ness. Zabags International Journal of Islamic Studies, 2(2), 365–374. https://doi.org/10.61233/zijis.v2i2.54

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Copyright (c) 2025 The Author(s). This article is published by Zabags International Journal of Islamic Studies and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). View License Agreement

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