OIC standards body SMIIC sets up new halal pharmaceuticals technical committee

The Standards and Metrology Institute for the Islamic Countries (SMIIC) has set up a new technical committee for halal pharmaceuticals to drive the standardisation process of the sector.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation body said in a statement on Monday (Nov 25) that TC16 – Halal Pharmaceuticals Issues will be helmed by chairperson Prof. Dr. Zhari Ismail for the term 2020-2025.

Malaysia will take on secretariat responsibilities as the originator of the proposal for the new technical committee.

Malaysia already has its own standard for halal pharmaceuticals under MS 2424:2012.

TC16 will start with 10 participating members Iran, Malaysia, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and Uganda. It will also include two observer members United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

SMIIIC has also set up a new technical committee for handicraft, with the secretariat given to Egypt as the originator of the proposal for the committee.

SMIIC now has 17 technical committees, including for halal food, halal cosmetics, halal supply chain, and halal management systems.

The Turkey-based organisation works to harmonise standards among the 57 member states of the OIC in the absence of a single standard used by all for the halal or other sectors.

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