Effectiveness of food safety for halal industry in Indonesia

Abstract

The present work aimed to identify and analyse stakeholders’ role in improving food safety and halalness in Semarang City. The effectiveness of food safety control can be ensured by one actor, and requires various related actors’ role. The present work used a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed method). The data were collected using a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held with relevant stakeholders, including Semarang City Health Office, Semarang City Trade Office, Semarang Food and Drug Administration Center, business association, academics, entrepreneurs, Consumer Development and Protection Institute, and consumers. In regard to priority aspect, it was found that emphasis must be given to three main aspects by stakeholders, namely economic, socio-cultural, and institutional, which could be used to ensure food safety and halalness for the people. Moreover, based on the stakeholder analysis results, the actors with significant influence and high dependency were entrepreneurs, Semarang City Health Office, Semarang Food and Drug Administration Center, Agency for Drug and Food Control, and academics. Meanwhile, the actors with firm convergence were Semarang City Health Office, Semarang Food and Drug Administration Center, and business associations since they share a commitment to building food safety. Furthermore, based on the FGD results, some improvements are required regarding food control that the food safety network has carried out, along with establishing food safety and halal regulation.