Global Halal Certification Research: Trends, Intellectual Structure, and Future Research Directions

Abstract

The rapid growth of the global halal economy has increased scholarly interest in halal certification, yet its intellectual development and emerging research directions remain fragmented. This study aims to systematically map the evolution of global halal certification research by identifying publication trends, leading contributors, thematic development, and future research opportunities. A bibliometric approach was employed using 473 publications retrieved from the Scopus database through a structured document selection process. The data were analyzed using Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny in RStudio to examine scientific productivity, influential sources, authors, institutions, countries, and thematic evolution. The findings reveal a significant increase in research output, with Indonesia and Malaysia emerging as the leading contributors. The field has evolved from focusing on religious compliance and consumer assurance toward broader themes related to governance, supply chain management, digital transformation, sustainability, and business competitiveness. The originality of this study lies in proposing an evolutionary framework that explains the intellectual progression of halal certification research while identifying emerging research opportunities. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, certification authorities, and industry practitioners in strengthening a more transparent, innovative, and sustainable global halal ecosystem.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21353146