@Halal R&R - Rest & Rehlah November/December 2025 | Page 12

November-December. 2025
12 Standards

A global standard

Malaysia strengthens its halal credibility through SMIIC

MALAYSIA proudly reaffirmed its global leadership in the halal ecosystem by hosting the 14th Technical Committee Week of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries( 14th TC Week SMIIC) from 22 to 26 September 2025 at Hotel Impiana, KLCC.

Held for the first time outside of Istanbul, Türkiye, this milestone reinforced
Malaysia ' s role as a key player in global halal standardisation.
Organised in conjunction with the Global Halal Summit( GHaS) 2025, the event gathered experts from member countries to discuss halal-related standards that enhance industries such as hospitality, travel, and wellness, further highlighting Malaysia ' s influence in setting benchmarks for quality and credibility in the global halal ecosystem.
Among the week ' s highlights was the SMIIC TC5 Meeting on Tourism and Related Services, where the Islamic Tourism Centre( ITC) proudly represented Malaysia. As a Participating Member of SMIIC / TC5, Malaysia continues to lead efforts in formulating international standards for Islamic tourism, ensuring better quality, inclusivity, and collaboration among Organisation of Islamic Cooperation( OIC) member countries.
Complemented by technical tours and networking sessions, the 14th SMIIC TC Week strengthened cross-border partnerships and showcased Malaysia ' s commitment to advancing Islamic tourism as a vital contributor to global sustainable travel growth.- RnR
MALAYSIA AS KEY GLOBAL REFERENCE
Zulkefli Mohamad, Deputy Secretary-General of the Muslim Consumers ' Association of Malaysia( PPIM), shared the following insights during the event:
Positive outcomes
He described the outcomes of the 14th TC Week SMIIC as excellent, highlighting productive stakeholder engagements and updates on the latest developments and progress of various halal standards.
Main challenge in harmonisation
He identified differing interpretations among Islamic schools of thought( madhabs) as the main challenge in harmonising halal standards, noting that Malaysia ' s Shafi ' i school sometimes differs from the Hanbali, Maliki, and Hanafi schools practised elsewhere. He stressed the importance of OIC standards in unifying these approaches across countries, particularly within Asia.
Malaysia ' s key role
He emphasised that about 90 – 95 per cent of SMIIC standards are based on Malaysian standards, positioning Malaysia as a key global reference in areas such as food, cosmetics, and management systems, while encouraging continuous enhancement to benefit the international halal community.
Zulkefli Mohamad.
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MUSLIM-FRIENDLY HOSPITALITY AWARENESS OF HALAL STANDARDS
Mohamed Abdelkefi, Chair of the SMIIC TC5 Meeting on Tourism and Related Services, highlighted some key points on Islamic tourism:
Strengthening cooperation through standards
He highlighted that the 14th TC Week SMIIC demonstrates how Islamic countries can collaborate to produce reliable and fundamental technical documents that enhance cooperation, particularly in Muslim-friendly tourism. Harmonising standards, he said, is crucial to ensure Muslim travellers receive consistent, quality services that meet Islamic requirements wherever they go.
Mohamed Abdelkefi.
Tunisia ' s alignment with halal and Muslim-friendly tourism
He explained that Tunisia aligns its tourism industry with halal and Muslim-friendly standards through a national mirror committee that adopts OIC / SMIIC standards. The process involves close collaboration between the country ' s religious authority, including the Mufti, and the standardisation body under the Ministry of Industry to ensure food, tourism sites, and hospitality services meet both national and international halal standards.
Enhancing global confidence and tourism growth
He noted that while most of Tunisia ' s visitors currently come from Europe, there is a growing influx of Muslim tourists seeking assurance that services comply with Islamic principles. Through certification and the adoption of standards, Tunisia aims to attract more visitors from Muslim-majority countries by building confidence in its halal-certified products and services.
Abdoul Fathi Sanogo, Technical Assistant of the SMIIC TC5 on Tourism and Related Services, shared his thoughts on halal standards in tourism:
A productive week
He described the 14th TC Week SMIIC as highly productive, achieving many key objectives, including the revision and confirmation of several standards approved by the technical committee. He commended Malaysia ' s successful hosting of the event, noting that it provided a valuable platform for collaboration and progress in halal standardisation.
Importance of halal standards in tourism
He emphasised that halal standards play a crucial role in supporting the growth of Muslim-friendly tourism. With Muslims forming a significant portion of the global population and travel market, he noted the importance of ensuring that tourism services, such as travel, accommodation, and leisure activities, adhere to Islamic principles, giving Muslim travellers confidence that their experiences align with their faith.
Challenges in implementation and awareness
He identified full implementation and awareness as the main challenges in aligning halal standards across member states. While many standards have been developed, he highlighted the need for greater awareness among businesses and stakeholders to ensure consistent application throughout the tourism value chain.
Abdoul Fathi Sanogo.