UAE: SMIIC delegation visits Dubai Municipality

Discussions focus on unified system for accreditation

smiic_logoRepresentatives of Standards & Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) have visited Dubai civic body recently and have held discussions on topics related to accreditation procedures and standards with regards to Halal food.

The team was headed by Hulusi Senturk, Chairman of Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries who is also heads Turkish Standards Institute and was received by Amina Ahmed, Director of Accreditation Department at Dubai Municipality .

While talking about the visit Amina said it comes within Dubai Municipality ‘s efforts to support making Dubai the global capital for Islamic economy as envisioned by HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and part of constant efforts to upgrade the quality of life in the Emirate.

She said the purpose of organizing such visits is part of municipality’s active communication with competent global bodies and organizations in order to better standards and conformity& accreditation mechanism for Halal products in Dubai.

She said the meeting with SMIIC representatives stressed the need to find out unified Halal accreditation system in Islamic countries including GCC.

During the meeting, accreditation department officials showed before the visitors a presentation detailing general status of Halal trade in Dubai as well as various mechanisms and systems at accreditation department with regards to issuing certificates and conformity tests.

Hulusi Senturk said, as Halal products and business based on Islamic economy booming up, the control and accreditation systems need to be improved in line with the general advancement and development.

He stressed the need for sharing of knowledge, technologies and systems related to the field, among regional countries.

He also expressed his satisfaction the way Dubai Municipality manage systems and operate mechanism to control products in order to ensure quality.

Both ends agreed to continue communications and cooperation to open ways to bring in a unified system in the region for accreditation of Halal products and in other fields that might ensure quality of products in the region.