Brunei’s Halal Certification in Global Trade: Legal Barriers, Market Challenges, and Policy Solutions

Abstract

Brunei’s halal certification is crucial to the nation’s halal industry, as it reinforces Muslim consumers’ faith and signifies that the products are religiously compliant, safe, and hygienic. Nonetheless, this certification framework encounters substantial legal and market obstacles in the global trade sector. While other countries possess more adaptable halal certification procedures that accommodate a broader array of markets, Brunei’s adherence to madhhab (school of thought) Shafie imposes distinct limitations. Although many similarities are there, divergences arising from different madhhabs present difficulties for regulators, consumers, and halal product producers. Therefore, this paper is a library-based study that examines the legislative barriers, provides a comparative overview of the Malay world, notably Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, and proposes policy alternatives to improve Brunei’s worldwide competitiveness in the halal market. The proposed strategies will further alleviate potential international trade disputes related to the export and import of halal products.