The Halal Center of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has been awarded an international collaborative research grant from the Directorate of Islamic Higher Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The research focuses on global halal standards applied by Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs) in Japan and was conducted from 28 November to 2 December 2025.

The research activities concentrated on an in-depth examination of the implementation and variation of halal standards adopted by various Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs) in Japan. In addition to discussions with certification bodies, the research team also engaged directly with Ninomiya Co. Ltd., one of the largest halal product providers in Tokyo, to gain industry perspectives on the application of halal standards.

To date, halal standards remain a global challenge, primarily due to the lack of uniformity in halal criteria across countries. This situation affects certification processes, cross-border halal trade, and the strengthening of global consumer trust in halal products.

The research is led by Dr. Imelda Fajriati, M.Si. from the Halal Center of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, with Dr. Lilik Hamidah, M.Si. from UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya as a team member, and academic support from Prof. Satomi Ohgata, a researcher from Kyushu International University, Japan.

The outcomes of this research are expected to contribute both academically and practically to the harmonization of international halal standards, thereby reinforcing the global halal industry ecosystem through cross-country and cross-institutional collaboration.