The Importance of Halal Product Guarantees in Fish Processing

Ensuring the halal status of food products is a crucial requirement in the food industry. Products certified as halal must comply with strict food safety and hygiene standards while also providing benefits to consumers. Fish is one of the primary raw materials used in processed food products. In Tuban Regency, East Java Province, the fisheries sector is a leading contributor to regional economic growth, with the fish processing industry—dominated by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—serving as its backbone. This study aimed to analyze the supply chain of raw materials for fish processing units, classify fish processing enterprises, and evaluate the implementation of halal product guarantees and certification in Tuban Regency. An exploratory design approach was employed, utilizing primary data collected through surveys, questionnaires, and direct interviews with respondents. The results reveal that most fish processing businesses in Tuban have not yet implemented Halal Product Guarantee Standards and lack halal certification. The enterprises vary widely in product types, production volumes, income levels, investment capacity, marketing targets, and labor utilization. Improving technological standardization and product quality emerges as a key factor for enhancing efficiency. From an economic perspective, the adoption of advanced technology is essential to increase production output without additional inputs, thereby strengthening business competitiveness in the halal-certified fish processing sector.