Oman joins Islamic standards body

MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has been approved as a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, or SMIIC, from 2027, giving it a greater role in developing common technical and halal standards across Islamic markets.
The membership is expected to strengthen cooperation in standardisation, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment, while helping facilitate trade between member countries.
SMIIC is an institution affiliated with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and is headquartered in Türkiye.
The Sultanate of Oman’s membership was accepted during the institute’s 31st Board of Directors meeting following an application submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion.
Imad bin Khamis al Shukaili, Director-General of Standards and Metrology, said membership would allow the Sultanate of Oman to participate in developing and improving standards used by member states.
It would also give Omani specialists access to training programmes, workshops and technical exchanges intended to strengthen national capabilities in standardisation, quality and metrology, he said.
The Directorate-General of Standards and Metrology will represent the Sultanate of Oman in the SMIIC General Assembly and in technical bodies including the Standardisation Management Council and the Metrology Council.
Participation in the councils and committees will give the Sultanate of Oman a role in formulating technical policies and standards adopted across Islamic countries.
Dr Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre at the ministry, said membership would also support the development of the national halal system.
He said cooperation with SMIIC and its member states would help the Sultanate of Oman build an integrated halal accreditation framework covering products, services and halal certification bodies.
Common standards could facilitate the entry of Omani products into overseas markets, increase their competitiveness and reduce technical barriers to trade, al Busaidi said.
Membership would also support training and qualification programmes for Omani assessors and auditors in line with SMIIC requirements.
This would help ensure the quality and accuracy of audits covering halal products, particularly food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and improve protection against counterfeit or adulterated products.
The Oman Accreditation Centre will also participate in the institute’s Accreditation Council, which works to develop a unified accreditation system among member states and ensure the competence of certification bodies.
Al Busaidi said the accession came as the Sultanate of Oman worked to strengthen its national standards and metrology framework and prepare the Oman Accreditation Centre for international recognition.
The membership is expected to support the signing of memoranda of understanding and mutual recognition agreements with Islamic countries in areas including standardisation, conformity assessment and halal accreditation.
It will also support efforts to align the Sultanate of Oman’s quality infrastructure with internationally recognised requirements and practices, the ministry said.
The move forms part of national efforts to improve product and service quality, strengthen institutional capacity and support trade and economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040. — ONA