Assessing Barriers to Adopting and Implementing Halal Practices in Logistics Operations

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand for Halal products, a need of adopting and implementing Halal Logistics (HL) practices are observed. This paper presents a structural model for barriers to adoption of HL practices with conventional logistics. Halal goods and services are becoming popular in public domain because of the improving disposable income of the masses. Another reason for this emergence as Halal appeals to the consumers who care about the origin of the product, fair trade, sustainability, cleanliness and humane animal husbandry, as Halal products are based on ideas of cleanliness, purity, safety and wholesomeness and set of ethical values. Through this paper, significant barriers to the adoption of HL practices in conventional logistics are identified which are instrumental in delivering consumables with Halal attributes. A structural and hierarchical model of the identified barriers is developed using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) technique. Then, MICMAC analysis has been done to categorise these barriers against their driving and dependence power. We identified that the HL is not mandatory for the issuance of a Halal certificate for Halal manufacturers and this is the primary reason for the lack of demand. The structural model obtained, is in harmony with expert's opinion and literature, this model can help in mitigating these barriers towards effective adoption and implementation of HL practices and ultimately guarantee Halal integrity till consumption. The model so generated can be quite helpful in adopting and implementing HL practices. Through structural and hierarchical model this paper provides a basis for defining the problem faced by practitioner and policy planner involved in incorporating Halal practices in a logistics operation.