SMIIC In Brief by Murat Tasarsu

SMIIC is an OIC Affiliated Institution

IN BRIEF The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries

www.smiic.org

SMIIC T H E S TA N DA R D S A N D M E T RO LO G Y I N S T I T U TE F O R I S L A M I C CO U NT R I E S

CO NTE NT S 02

I NT RO D U C T I O N

W H AT I S O I C ?

C U R R E NT I S S U E S W I T H I N O I C M E M B E R CO U NT R I E S

W H AT I S S M I I C ?

VISION AND MISSION

O B J E C T I VE S

B R I E F H I S TO RY O F S M I I C

STRUCTURE OF SMIIC

S TA N DA R D I Z AT I O N

M E T RO LO G Y

AC C R E D I TAT I O N

O c to b e r 2 0 1 3 , I s t a n b u l - T U R KE Y

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Standards are vital to the emerging economies of Islamic countries.

I NT RO D U C T I O N Harmonisation of standards, metrology and accreditation is vital for accelerating the development of Muslim country economies. Its use will promote common understanding throughout all member states. A common standardization, metrology and accreditation framework eliminates trade barriers and facilitates trade between the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states and the entire world. In an age of globalisation and economic interdependence Islamic countries need to work together to establish fully functional and sustainable knowledge-based economies.

An advanced National Standardization Body (NSB) that is well developed, with a good implementation network is critical for the development of a quality infrastructure.

A quality infrastructure is needed for a countries sustainable development, full participation in international trade and to be able to satisfy the technical requirements of the multilateral trading system. Metrology, Standardization and Accreditation are three separate, but interlinked and interdependent â&#x20AC;&#x153;pillarsâ&#x20AC;? which are essential for developing a quality infrastructure.

A common standardization, metrology and accreditation framework eliminates trade barriers and facilitates trade between the OIC member states and the entire world.

“

Establishing and maintaining a basic infrastructure by assuring

The effects of globalization have made coordination and

the security, health and wellbeing of their citizens is of first

collaboration with international and regional standardization

priority to all governments around the world.

bodies a must. The emergence of a multilateral trading system,

A basic infrastructure involves:

the effects of globalization and the increasing need for regional

Adequate and safe supplies of food and drinking water

cooperation have brought on a change in the role of the NSB.

Access to healthcare and education

The participation in the multilateral trading system has become

Transportation systems

almost impossible without a NSB. Whilst establishing national

Societal security

standards for particular merchandises, it simultaneously needs

Communications systems, etc.

to actively participate in subregional, regional and international activities. NSB’s need to ensure that their standardization

Once these are in place, then the establishment of an efficient

scheme is harmonized with regional and international standards.

trading system becomes vital. Economies cannot survive without trade. To facilitate access of goods and services to markets, both

Standards are vital to the emerging economies of Islamic

internally and externally and the establishment of an efficient

countries. Standards are increasingly being used to support

trading system there are main building blocks. Metrology,

technical regulations, and are addressing fast-moving and

standardization and accreditation are some of these main

converging technologies. Some Islamic countries have reached

building blocks, they are part of the integrated technical mix that

high standards in issuance and implementation of international

is necessary for a country to be able to trade both bilaterally and

standards. These countries have state-of-the-art institutions

within the multilateral trading system.

which have long and successful histories in standardization and metrology. On the contrary there are also Islamic countries

The widespread use of common standards throughout the

which are at the initial stages of forming a NSB or have no such

Islamic countries will act as a precursor for a quality culture in

organisation.

our societies. When countries adopt the same standards, trade is simplified between them.

We all have something we can teach the other. Collaboration between Islamic countries will aid judicious and efficient

The role of NSB’s has been evolving over the last 50 years.

utilization of scarce resources. Simultaneously, fostering the

enhancement of Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) shall

countries is highly specialized. Fortunately, there are many

increase growth and market access of Islamic countries.

Muslim countries which have well established standardization bodies with know-how of the ever evolving international

It is a fact and unfortunate that almost more than 20 of the countries in the United Nations LDC’s

standards. Setting standards and reviewing them requires regular evaluation. One-off policy advice

list are Muslim countries. Developing Muslim countries have different historical needs

trajectories in

relation

developed

and to

countries.

Muslim countries have specific needs and issues, which they themselves best

comprehend,

for

example Halal. This is an issue which touches the hearts of all Muslim countries. A

common

is not sufficient. An institute as The

We all have something we can teach the other. Collaboration between Islamic countries will aid judicious and efficient utilization of scarce resources.

standardization

feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.

for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) is imperative. In order to develop fully functional and sustainable

knowledge

based

economies,

Islamic countries need to collaborate and cooperate to achieve this together. This is why SMIIC was established.

SMIIC will address developmental

framework is fundamental for the development of Halal, Tayyib, good quality food,

Standards and Metrology Institute

issues confronting the OIC Member states in the age of globalization and economic interdependence as mentioned by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic

Capacity building in the field of standardization in Islamic

Cooperation, 2012*

* Ihsanoğlu, E. (04-05 May 2012), Message of H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, Secreatry General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation at the 3rd Meeting of the General Assembly of SMIIC, in Istanbul, Turkey.

W H AT I S O I C ?

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 countries spread over four continents.

The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

It has been vital to take steps in order to establish a powerful standardization infrastructure between OIC member countries

CURRENT ISSUES WITHIN OIC MEMBER STATES The great majority of the Islamic countries are considered as nonindustrialized economies, having as exportable only a limited number of primary commodities and/or raw materials.

Dependence on imports of manufactures and capital goods is overwhelming, as the limited numbers of industries that exist are small scale operations that produce a restricted spectrum of consumer and/or intermediate products. Due to the low level of technology used and its rather outdated nature, industrial production is not so efficient and is relatively costly, resulting in only marginal benefits from the existing resources.

Furthermore, amongst the OIC member countries, international relations can often be missing even in the case of close neighbors, causing opportunities for cooperation and mutual gain to remain unutilized.

Despite the urgency of the situation, the positive changes in favor of the OIC member countries on the global scene have been rather small.

In short, the OIC group of countries continue to face, in a rapidly changing world, challenging problems in the areas of industrial production, technology and optimal utilization of resources.

On the other hand, standardization is a key element to push up the capacities of export and competition, it is a necessary process for ensuring effectiveness in any product/service. Standards are vital because they provide a common language among the buyers and sellers who are coming from a large variety of cultures.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly important to conduct activities to harmonize the standards and conformity assessment procedures under the auspices of an international or regional organization. Therefore, it has been vital to take the necessary steps in order to establish a powerful standardization infrastructure between OIC member countries.

W H AT I S S M I I C ?

The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), affiliated institution to OIC, as a sound mechanism for harmonization of standards among the OIC countries and for preparation of new ones, aims at realizing harmonized standards in the Member States which will help to eliminate technical barriers to trade and thus developing trade among themselves. Establishing certification and accreditation schemes for the purpose of expediting the exchange of materials, manufactured goods and products among Member States, is one of the SMIIC priorities.

SMIIC also aims at achieving uniformity in metrology, laboratory testing and standardization activities among Member States and providing education and training as well as technical assistance to the OIC Members in the domain of standardization and metrology.

SMIIC (affiliated to OIC) is a sound mechanism for harmonization of standards among the OIC countries .

VISION To become a leading actor by making key contribution to the economic improvements and to the welfare of its Member Bodies/States by means of establishing quality infrastructure and high quality standards.

MISSION To develop harmonized standards and other relevant specific standards through a voluntary standardization process to expedite exchange of goods and services among Member Bodies/States targeting uniformity in metrology and laboratory services, standardization, and accreditation activities supporting sustainable economic growth, within the frame of health and environmental protection, promotion of innovation and ensuring safety issues.

SMIIC Headquarters is located in Istanbul, Turkey.

Eliminating technical barriers to trade in order to benefit from the economic advantages

O B J E C T I VE S 1

To endeavor the realization of harmonized standards in Member States to eliminate any factor relating to the standards covering materials, manufacturers and products, likely to affect adversely the trade among Member States.

To prepare OIC/SMIIC Standards aiming at enabling the Member States to reap maximum benefit from the economic advantages to be brought about by the standards.

To achieve uniformity in metrology, laboratory testing and standardization activities among Member States.

To supply to the Member Bodies, through cost sharing system, calibration and metrology services, which necessitate large investments and expenditures.

To provide education and training for the Member Bodies personnel in the domain of standardization and metrology by making most efficient use of existing means and sharing accumulated information and experience.

To provide documentation and information services in connection with standards and issues related to the needs of the Member Bodies in this field.

To provide technical assistance to the Member States which do not possess such standardization bodies with the view of enabling them to establish their own standardization body.

H I S TO RY

1984

1997

1998

it was first emphasized that the standardization bodies of the Member Countries should harmonize their national standards

Standards and Metrology Organization for Islamic Countries (SMOIC) was established

Member organizations sent their comments on the draft statute to the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE) and the OIC General Secretariat

At the first meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and

of the SMOIC to the 12th COMCEC Meeting and it was decided

Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of OIC chaired by the Turkish

that the name of the organizationbe changed as the Standards

President in 1984, it was emphasized that the standardization

and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) in the 12th

bodies of the Member Countries should harmonize their national

COMCEC Meeting.

standards for the purpose of eliminating technical barriers to trade and thus developing trade among themselves.

Following the 12th COMCEC Meeting, member organizations sent their comments on the draft statute to the Turkish Standards

In this context, The Expert Group and Coordination Committee

Institution (TSE) and the OIC General Secretariat. During the

have convened 7 times (totally 14 meetings) from 1985 to

13th COMCEC Meeting held on November 01-04, 1997 in

1997. According to the resolutions made at these meetings,

Istanbul, it was decided that the draft statute of SMIIC should be

it was decided to establish the Standards and Metrology

reviewed with respect to both technical and judicial content in

Organization for Islamic Countries (SMOIC). The Expert Group

the frame of the opinions received from member countries. In the

in its 7th Meeting in 1996 decided to submit the draft statute

frame of this decision, the 8th Expert Group Meeting was held on

1999

2010

2013

The Statute of SMIIC was first submitted to the member countries

The Statute entered into force after fulfilling the ratification requirement of 10 OIC member countries.

The number of member countries has reached to 23 by May 2013. (Please visit SMIIC Website for up-to-date information.)

March 24-26, 1998 in Ankara by the participation of the experts

Consequently, an important step was taken in order to begin the

representing their standardization bodies, Deputy Secretary

official work of SMIIC as a regional standardization organization.

General of OIC and OIC Chief Judicial Adviser. During this meeting, the draft statute was re-written in the frame of the opinions

The Statute of SMIIC was first submitted to the member

of member countries, judicial rules of OIC and international

countries for its signature during the 15th COMCEC Meeting held

experience of TSE and circulated to the member countries as a

on November 04-07, 1999 in Istanbul.

final draft. Furthermore, the submission of the draft statute for its approval at 14th COMCEC Meeting was decided.

The Statute entered into force after fulfilling the ratification requirement of 10 OIC member countries on May 2010.

The mentioned draft statute was included to the agenda (Article 7) of the 14th COMCEC Meeting held on November 01-04, 1998 in Istanbul and approved after comprehensive negotiations.

STRUCTURE OF SMIIC

ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE

ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 1

Standardization Department

Technical Committees

Coordination Section

GENERAL ASSEMBLY is the Supreme decision making organ of the SMIIC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS is the organ entrusted with the supervision of the execution of the programs, plans and activities of the institue and consists of the chairman, two vice-charmen and members.

GENERAL SECRETARIAT of SMIIC is the organ which is responsible for the implementation of the programs plans and decisions of the SMIIC; it is headed by the Secretary General of the Institute.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ADMINISTRATIVE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 3

GENERAL SECRETARIAT

Administrative and Financial Department

Administrative Affairs Section

ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL 2 Financial Services Section Technical Support and Training Department

Metrology Department

Legal Affairs Section Technical Support Section

International Cooperation Section

Metrology Committee

Human Resource Section

Training Section

S TA N D A R D I Z AT I O N IN GENERAL

Industry

A standard is a document, established by consensus and

approved

recognized provides,

body, for

Chamber of Commerce

producers and as well as to

GOs

the economy. This process is nothing but standardization

Standardization

that

common

SMEs

itself.

Private Sector

Consumer

and repeated use, rules,

Standards

guidelines or characteristics for

technical

activities or their results, aimed

R&D

are

made

experts

and

are

reached by consensus among its

NGOs

at the achievement of the optimum

stakeholders ensuring a high level of

degree of order in a given context.

safety and quality of goods and services while simultaneously encompassing state-of-the-

Standardization must get general recognition through mutual

art technology. The application of standards is voluntary and

work and contribution among its stakeholders namely producers,

contributes to international trade.

users,

consumers,

governmental

and

non-governmental

organizations, institutions and other interested parties. It

Standardization

also involves publishing of standard which often defines the

trade but also to the infrastructure that supports society,

characteristics of products and services and the way to test

including education, health and environment while promoting

them. Stakeholders wish to influence these characteristics so

sustainability.

that products and services provide some benefits to consumers,

contributes

not

only

international

“

The TCs are the key bodies that drive the standardization and comprise experts from the members and are a completely voluntary effort.

WITHIN SMIIC

Standards are not developed by the standardization organization

SMIIC members. At meetings SMIIC members are represented by

itself. Standardization is handled by various technical committees

a number of delegates. Observers in the TC may be Non-Member

or TCs as they are called. The TCs are the key bodies that drive

States of SMIIC, Observer States of OIC and Organizations

the standardization and comprise experts from the members

working on related issues or areas of standardization, metrology

organizations and are a completely voluntary effort.

or accreditation in Member States. Observers from organizations that have been granted liaison, having indicated that they want

A TC is a technical decision making body with a precise title, scope

to and have been granted the right to participate in the TC. Some

and work programme, established within SMIIC. A TC essentially

of the SMIIC TCs are as follows:

manages the preparation of SMIIC deliverables in accordance with an agreed business plan.

•

TC1 Halal Food Issues

•

TC2 Halal Cosmetics Issues

The primary duty of a Technical Committee is the development

•

TC3 Service Site Issues

and systematic maintenance of the OIC/SMIIC Standards

•

TC4 Renewable Energy

according to related activities within a particular scope of work

•

TC5 Tourism and Related Services

(e.g.: TC 1 Halal Food Issues, etc.).

•

TC6 Agricultural Processes

•

TC7 Transportation

•

...

A Technical Committee is composed of a chairman, a secretary and SMIIC members. The national delegations are designated by the

M E T RO LO GY IN GENERAL

Metrology is the science of measurement. It includes units of

Industrial metrology deals with measurements in production

measurement and their standards, measuring instruments and

and quality control. It covers calibration procedures, calibration

their field of application, and all theoretical and practical problems

intervals, control of measurement processes and management

relating to measurement.

of measuring instruments in industry to ensure that they are in a state of compliance with requirements for their intended use.

Metrology is classified in three main fields:; Scientific Metrology, Industrial Metrology and Legal Metrology.

Legal metrology is that part of metrology which is subject to legal/regulatory control. It is defined in the International

Scientific Metrology is that part of metrology which deals

Vocabulary of Legal Metrology as that part of metrology

with problems common to all metrological questions irrespective

relating to activities which result from statutory requirements

of the quantity measured.

and concern measurement, units of measurement, measuring instruments and methods of measurement and which are

It covers general theoretical and practical problems concerning units

measurement,

including

their

realization

performed by competent bodies.

and

dissemination through scientific methods, the problems of errors and uncertainties in measurement and the problems of metrological properties of measuring instruments.

There are different specialist areas of metrology, for example: • Mass metrology dealing with mass measurements; • Dimensional metrology dealing with length and angle measurements; • Temperature metrology dealing with temperature measurements; • Electrical metrology dealing with electrical measurements; • Chemical metrology dealing with measurements in chemistry.

Since the metrology forms the backbone of the standards, achiving uniformity in metrology and laboratory testing amongst the OIC member states is the one of the aims of SMIIC

WITHIN SMIIC Since metrology forms the backbone of standards, it is the one of

SMIIC Metrology Committee is established in this regard to aid

the main area of concern of SMIIC. In order to achive uniformity

in achieving uniformity in metrology and laboratory testing

in metrology, laboratory testing and standardization activities

amongst OIC member states.

among Member States, the following actions are currently on the agenda of SMIIC:

â&#x20AC;˘ Having an inventory of existing calibration standards and establish a chain of traceability reaching reference standards for each basic unit.

â&#x20AC;˘ Acting as intermediary, for any unit, for meeting calibration requirements which may arise at any link of the chain to be established. It shall, through its staff of experts, certify the extent of accuracy and precision with which any calibration laboratory offers services.

â&#x20AC;˘ Supplying metrology services by making the most efficient use of the existing potentials in the Member States and aid in solving their problems in the field of metrology through coordinated research.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Accreditation is the internationally accepted procedure that recognizes the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, product certification bodies, quality system certification bodies and inspection bodies.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

ACC RE D I TAT I O N IN GENERAL Accreditation is a quality infrastructure tool which supports

A product or service accompanied by a conformity attestation

the credibility and value of the work carried out by conformity

delivered by an accredited conformity assessment body inspires

assessment bodies and thus of the corresponding attestations

trust as to the compliance with applicable specified requirements.

issued by them (test and inspection reports, calibration

Thereby accreditation favors the elimination of technical barriers

certificates, certifications of management systems, products and

to trade.

personnel and other attestations). A global acceptance of the services provided with accreditation is

Accreditation of conformity assessment bodies is carried out

also subject to some questions, as to establish a confidence for the

against globally accepted requirements set out in international

quality of the accreditation service itself. The trusting mechanism

standards defining competence criteria for the category of

between accreditation bodies is constructed on the multilateral

conformity assessment body, against supplementary sector

agreements at the international and regional accreditation

specific requirements and against guidance documents

body organizations, like IAF ( International Accreditation Forum),

from international and regional cooperation organizations of

ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation), EA

accreditation bodies.

(European Cooperation for Accreditation), etc.

WITHIN SMIIC Accreditation ensures to the consumer that standards have been adhered to and certificates issued appropriately. SMIIC has an independent Accreditation Committee (AC). AC is the unit carrying out activities aimed at the establishment of an accreditation scheme amongst the OIC Member States. AC shall provide the world wide recognition of accreditation certificates and protect against unfair uses.

AC is responsible for supporting actions for establishing a sound accreditation system OIC-wide and raise awareness of the accreditation concept within the OIC Member States. This Committee is responsible for implementing OIC/SMIIC accreditation standards, performing peer assessment activities and issuing related certificates.

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