Accelerating Halal Certification and Digital Branding: Empowering MSMEs through Legal Compliance

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the halal industry has created significant opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance their competitiveness through halal certification and professional branding. However, many MSME owners in Pemuteran Village, Buleleng, operate within informal economic structures with limited awareness of halal certification procedures and digital marketing strategies. This community service program aimed to empower MSMEs by accelerating the acquisition of Business Identification Numbers (NIB), facilitating halal certification through the Self-Declare scheme, and strengthening digital branding capacities. The program was implemented through a participatory empowerment approach that combined legal mentoring with practical training workshops. Activities included assistance in NIB registration via the Online Single Submission system, mentoring in halal certification submission through the SIHALAL platform, and digital branding clinics focused on logo design and social media marketing. The results demonstrated significant improvements in MSME legal literacy, successful submission of halal certification applications, and the creation of professional digital brand identities for participating businesses. These outcomes strengthened consumer trust, improved product competitiveness, and expanded market opportunities in digital marketplaces. The program concludes that integrating legal compliance with digital branding strategies can significantly enhance MSME empowerment and contribute to sustainable local economic development within the halal industry ecosystem.