The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) conducted its inaugural virtual foundation training for the private sector on the "OIC/SMIIC 24: 2020 General Requirements for Food Additives and Other Added Chemicals to Halal Food" on August 28-29, 2024. The training, delivered in English by Dr. Mohammed Ali Alsheikh from the SMIIC General Secretariat, was attended by 22 experts from six countries.

The OIC/SMIIC 24 standard is the result of collaborative efforts among several Islamic countries, aimed at developing guidelines for the identification of doubtful and non-Halal additives. This standard is an important resource for auditors in the Halal certification sector and provides key information for Muslim consumers worldwide. It also includes specific requirements concerning the use of alcohol in dissolving additives and flavorings.

The training program focused on the essential requirements of the OIC/SMIIC 24 standard, which addresses food additives, processing aids, added nutrients, and flavorings in Halal food, all in accordance with Islamic principles.

The curriculum covered a range of topics, including the history and development of the OIC/SMIIC 24 standard, an overview of food additives, the functional classes and categories of these substances, their origins, the purposes of added nutrients, different flavoring agents, and the practical application of the standard. The training concluded with a question-and-answer session and an evaluation test.