Saturday 11 / July / 2026
Muscat: In a move that strengthens its presence within the Islamic standardisation and quality infrastructure, the Sultanate of Oman has been admitted as a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for the Islamic Countries (SMIIC), with membership taking effect in 2027.
The membership will create broader opportunities for the Sultanate of Oman to contribute to the development of harmonised standards adopted by member states, strengthen technical cooperation, and facilitate the movement of goods and products across Islamic markets.
The membership forms part of the efforts of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), represented by the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology (DGSM), to strengthen integration with regional and international organisationsspecialising in standardisation, while enhancing the reliability of products, services and processes delivered by conformity assessment bodies, including testing and calibration laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies.
Imad bin Khamis Al Shukaili, Director General of DGSM, said Oman’s membership was approved during the 31st Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Standards and Metrology for Islamic Countries, following the MoCIIP’s application to join the organisation.
Strengthening cooperation
Al Shukaili said Oman’s accession to the Institute, which operates under the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and is headquartered in Türkiye, marks an important step towards strengthening cooperation and integration with Arab, Islamic and other countries in the fields of standardisation and quality.
He added that the membership will enable Oman to participate in the development of standards, benefit from training programmes and workshops, and exchange technical expertise, contributing to national capacity building and enhancing the competencies of specialists in standardisation and quality.
Al Shukaili also noted that the Directorate General of Standards and Metrology will represent Oman at the Institute’s General Assembly and a number of its councils and technical committees, including the Standardization Management Council and the Metrology Council, further strengthening the Sultanate’s role in shaping technical policies related to standards and metrology across Islamic countries.
Enhancing cooperation
Meanwhile, Dr Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Director of the Oman Accreditation Centre (OMAC) at MoCIIP, said the membership will support the development of Oman’s halal ecosystem by strengthening cooperation with the Institute and OIC member states, while contributing to the establishment of an integrated halal accreditation framework based on SMIIC standards. This will cover halal products, services and halal certification bodies.
Harmonising halal standards
Dr Al Busaidi added that the move will contribute to harmonising halal standards among Islamic countries and support national products by facilitating their access to international markets and enhancing their competitiveness.
He also highlighted that the membership will support training and qualification programmes for Omani assessors and specialists in evaluation and auditing in accordance with SMIIC requirements, helping ensure the quality and integrity of halal audits, particularly for food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, while protecting consumers from counterfeit or fraudulent halal-labelled products.
Strengthening of OMAC
Dr Al Busaidi explained that the membership will enhance the role of the Oman Accreditation Centre (OMAC) through active participation in the Institute’s Accreditation Council, which is responsible for developing a unified accreditation system among member states to ensure the competence of certification bodies.
He said Oman’s admission comes at a time that aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen the national standards and metrology system and enhance OMAC’s readiness for international recognition. The membership represents a significant milestone in advancing the national accreditation framework, strengthening the halal ecosystem, and supporting technical and institutional efforts to align the Centre’s operations with internationally recognised accreditation and conformity assessment practices.
Through this membership, Oman reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the national quality infrastructure and expanding its active participation in the technical initiatives and programmes implemented by the Institute of Standards and Metrology for Islamic Countries. The move also supports the objectives of economic development and Oman Vision 2040, while facilitating the signing of memoranda of understanding and mutual recognition agreements with a number of Islamic countries in the fields of standardisation and halal.
