COMSTECH-SMIIC Training Course on “OIC/SMIIC Halal Products Standards and Testing:Food, Pharmaceuticals, and Cosmetics”
Jointly organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) in collaboration with
the Uzbek Agency for Technical Regulation (UzATR) and Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), Kazakhstan
Venue: Uzbek Agency for Technical Regulation, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Date: 12 – 16 May, 2025
Deadline for registration: 6 April, 2025
Flyer: Click Here
Introduction
In view of the diversity of several products, including processed food and other items of daily use in the present day, authentication and confirmation of their Halal nature is a growing challenge globally. Beside the environmental contaminants, both biological and chemical, addition of non-halal ingredients, which is prohibited for Muslims, are a matter of concern. In recent years, awareness about Halal food and products has increased due to the cross contamination of several industrial products in our daily life. However, with increasing globalization, many Islamic countries import these products (or ingredients) from places, which do not observe the Islamic religious laws. It is therefore, imperative for the Muslim countries to establish Halal testing laboratories, which will ensure the ‘Halal’ status of the consumer products.
COMSTECH, SMIIC and other OIC institutions/organizations have been mandated by the Abu Dhabi Declaration (Second OIC Summit on Science & Technology, June 2021) to develop the capacity of Least Developed Countries of the OIC relevant to Halal (Clause # 32). Earlier 3 trainings in different OIC regions i.e Africa (Uganda), Asia (Bangladesh) and North Africa (Morocco) has been successfully completed. The Forth version of the training is placed in Uzbekistan during 12-16 May covering the Central Asian OIC member countries.
Course Objectives
The objective of this training courses is to encourage the harmonization of Halal Standards used in the OIC Countries and internationally by aiding in the adoption and use of the OIC/SMIIC Halal Standards. The training course is designed to train the participants from Central Asian-OIC Member States regarding the procedures for adoption, implementation and use of the OIC/SMIIC Halal Food Standards, mainly:
- OIC/SMIIC 1:2019 – General Requirements for Halal Food
- Auditing of Testing Labs in line with OIC/SMIIC 35:2020– Conformity Assessment– General Requirements for the Competence of Laboratories Performing Halal Testing.
- The Testing Procedures standards such as Test Method for detection of porcine in Food Products (meat, processed food and gelatin) which are being chosen at SMIIC TC1 Technical Committee for Halal food issues.
- OIC/SMIIC 4 Halal Cosmetics – General Requirements
- OIC/SMIIC 50-1: 2022 Halal Pharmaceuticals – Part 1 – General Requirements
The aim is to transfer knowledge and skills, and to develop the human capital, while bridging the knowledge gap and enlightening the compliance requirements set forth by the regulatory bodies in the OIC Countries.
Practical session: A practical session will be conducted for a limited number of selected participants to transfer hands-on knowledge in halal laboratory testing methods.
Who Should Attend?
The training course is designed to address the interest of scientists, research scholars, government officials, statutory policymakers, enforcement officers, and food safety auditors in OIC/SMIIC Halal Products Standards and Testing.
Travel & Local Hospitality:
The organizers will cover the flight tickets and accommodation expenses (7 nights) from Category-1 countries as listed below to attend the training. Please also note that there is a limit of maximum 10 (ten) participants whose expenses will be borne by SMIIC, COMSTECH and IOFS. (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Albania, Uganda, Pakistan, Türkiye)
The training is also open to Category II countries as listed below. Limited funds are available to cover accommodation expenses of shortlisted participants from Category II countries. Participants are expected to cover the flight tickets from parent organizations. (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Russian Federation). SMIIC and COMSTECH will arrange local hospitality for selected participants.
The organizers will arrange local hospitality for selected participants. Travel support will be provided to the speaker/resource persons only.
Selection Criteria:
- Chemists, Researchers and Test Specialists high level, no beginners
- At least 3 years of practical experience in Real-Time PCR
- Able to converse and write in the English language
- Hold a permanent position at their institute
- Daily work with the measuring equipment
- Good knowledge in GLP.
- Age between 27 – 45 years old
- Had not previously participated in any course under SMIIC and COMSTECH
- Number of participants is limited and selection is based on the relevancy of the
- Applicant’s job scope to the objective of the programme.
Registration Process:
- For physical participation register at the following link: Click Here
- For virtual participation register at the following link: Click Here
- Read instructions in the application form carefully and submit a properly filled form along with your CV.
- Selected candidates will be notified through email; hence, applicants are required to check their emails regularly.
Workshop Coordinators:
Muhammad Haris Akram
Program Manager
COMSTECH, Islamabad.
Email: haris@comstech.org
Phone: +92 51 9220681
Mr. Çağrı Cankurtaran
Specialist
SMIIC, Türkiye.
Email: cagri.cankurtaran@smiic.org
Phone: +90 532 561 63 93