The Limit of Halal Logistics Standards and the Need for "Halal Customs Clearance": Qualitative Evidence from Turkish Foreign Trade Processes

Abstract

This study examines the customs clearance stage, which has remained largely outside the analytical scope of halal logistics literature that predominantly focuses on transportation and storage activities. Drawing on qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews with customs officers, inspectors, private sector representatives, standardization bodies, and Islamic scholars, the study employs thematic analysis to explore how halal integrity is addressed within customs environments.The findings indicate that mandatory public interventions at customs---such as inspection, sampling, search procedures, and temporary storage---introduce integrity-related risks distinct from those associated with production and conventional logistics processes. These interventions occur within a regulatory setting shaped by state sovereignty, institutional fragmentation, and plural interpretations of halal--tayyib requirements.Accordingly, the study argues that customs clearance should not be treated as a neutral extension of halal logistics. Instead, it conceptualizes "halal customs clearance" as a distinct analytical domain reflecting the interaction between public authority, operational practice, and normative diversity. By foregrounding the customs stage, the study contributes to expanding halal logistics research beyond production-centered certification frameworks toward a more comprehensive understanding of integrity across borders.