IOFS Marks 2nd World Halal Standards Day by Championing Innovation and Sustainability in Halal Food Systems

16 May 2025 - The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) joined the global observance of the 2nd World Halal Standards Day (WHSD), under the theme: “Innovating Halal: Embracing Food Tech and Sustainability with OIC/SMIIC Standards.”

This year’s WHSD commemorates the adoption of the first OIC/SMIIC halal standard in 2011 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and highlights the evolving nature of halal standards in light of global food system transformations. Led by the The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), WHSD is celebrated by stakeholders across OIC Member States to reaffirm the importance of harmonized halal regulations.

To mark the occasion, IOFS co-hosted a virtual international webinar featuring high-level speakers and technical experts from SMIIC and IOFS. The event brought together regulators, certification bodies, food industry leaders, and innovators to explore how halal standards can adapt to and leverage emerging trends in food technology, sustainability, and digital traceability.

In his opening statement, Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Assistant Director General of IOFS, emphasized the growing role of innovation and sustainability in reinforcing halal integrity and consumer trust. “Halal food plays a critical role in advancing food security across OIC Member States. Our partnership with SMIIC is instrumental in fostering an inclusive, ethical, and future-ready halal ecosystem,” he stated.
Ambassador Noziri further highlighted the importance of digital halal assurance tools such as smart labeling and QR-code verification, as well as the alignment of halal production with sustainable practices, including circular economy models and eco-packaging.

As part of its efforts to support halal standardization, IOFS recently organized a training course on OIC/SMIIC Halal Product Standards and Testing in collaboration with SMIIC in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (12–16 May 2025). The program aimed at enhancing institutional capacities across Member States in implementing harmonized halal requirements.

During the webinar, Dr. Shakhlo Atabaeva, IOFS Program Manager, delivered a presentation on the Organization’s vision for integrating halal standards with innovation and ethical food systems. This was complemented by a comprehensive overview from SMIIC experts and discussions among participants on the application of halal standards to new food sources and digital certification frameworks.
Planned activities for the week included public awareness campaigns, expert forums, and policy dialogues aimed at empowering stakeholders to align with global halal trends and consumer expectations.

The 2nd World Halal Standards Day reaffirms IOFS’s strategic commitment to enhancing food security through ethical, transparent, and innovative halal systems that uphold the values of the OIC and serve both Muslim and global communities.