Strengthening JULEHA Competency and Governance Under Indonesia's Mandatory Halal Certification Framework

JULEHA (Juru Sembelih Halal) play a strategic role in Indonesia's halal ecosystem as certified professionals responsible for ensuring animal slaughter complies with Islamic law, animal welfare principles, and national food safety standards. The enactment of Law No. 33 of 2014 on Halal Product Assurance transformed halal slaughter from a largely informal practice into a structured, competency-based certification system under BPJPH, supported by MUI fatwa authority and SKKNI standards. This study analyzes the regulatory framework, training models, competency assessment mechanisms, and implementation challenges of JULEHA certification. While progress has been made in professionalizing halal slaughter through standardized training and governance mechanisms, gaps remain in coverage, quality assurance, coordination, and accessibility, particularly among small-scale operators. Strengthening training capacity, quality control, and institutional coordination is essential to ensure system integrity and support Indonesia's position in the global halal market.