Purpose: This article presents a comparative analysis of halal legal governance in Indonesia and Thailand with a particular focus on enforcement. The study aims to identify policy implications and propose regulatory design approaches that can strengthen halal logistics ecosystems. Specifically, the discussion focuses on how legal instruments, institutional roles, and compliance mechanisms influence integrity outcomes at logistics nodes such as warehouses, transportation systems, ports, and cross-border corridors. These nodes represent critical operational points where risks of contamination and misrepresentation of halal status are most likely to occur. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a doctrinal legal approach by examining statutory interpretation, subsidiary instruments, and institutional mandates related to halal governance. This approach is combined with a comparative legal method to functionally analyse aspects such as certification authority, enforcement powers, and compliance incentives. The analysis is compared to recent regulatory developments in Indonesia’s mandatory halal regime and the Thai certification model, as well as contemporary literature on traceability and compliance technologies in food supply chains. Findings: The analysis shows that Indonesia’s transition to a mandatory halal certification system, accompanied by stronger government supervision, can enhance legal certainty in halal governance. However, this approach also creates challenges related to implementation capacity and increased transaction-cost risks, particularly in logistics activities that involve importers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In contrast, Thailand’s halal model is more market-oriented, and is driven by the Central Islamic Council of Thailand with support from scientific institutions. This model provides credible halal assurance through standardized procedures and strong laboratory capacity, although participation remains voluntary. The analysis of both models highlights contrasting approaches to certification authority, enforcement capacity, and logistics integrity controls, offering insights for halal governance improvement in other jurisdictions. Originality: This study offers slightly different perspectives by examining halal governance not merely as a certification issue but as an enforcement design challenge within logistics systems. By integrating doctrinal comparative analysis, the study proposes a more practical compliance framework for halal logistics applicable across diverse regulatory contexts.
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