SMIIC conducted a 4-day training titled "Halal Food and Meat Detection Methods Training and Interlaboratory Comparison for OIC Countries." This training was funded under the COMCEC Project Funding and was designated with the identifier number 2022-SMIIC-006.

The training took place from October 23 to 26, 2023, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, both at the SFDA Food Control Laboratory in Jeddah and online simultaneously.

On the first day, an introductory session was held for approximately 100 participants representing 15 laboratories from 10 OIC countries, which included Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Turkey. This session provided insights into OIC/SMIIC 35:2020 Conformity Assessment - General Requirements for the Competence of Laboratories Performing Halal Testing and OIC/SMIIC 36:2020 Conformity Assessment - General Requirements of Proficiency Testing for Halal Purposes.

Over the course of the 4-day training, 60 experienced trainees specializing in PCR testing received instruction on four distinct methods for detecting porcine materials in various food products, meat, processed meat, and gelatin. These methods are set to become integral components of the new standard OIC/SMIIC 25: Test Method for the Detection of Porcine in Food Products and Cosmetics.

This training forms part of an ongoing Interlaboratory comparison project, scheduled to continue until November 2023. The project's objective is to distribute four proficiency testing materials and kits related to halal testing to the participating laboratories. To conclude the project, a mini-seminar on Halal testing laboratories is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on November 25, 2023.