TS OIC/SMIIC 36

TS OIC/SMIIC 36 is a conformity assessment standard focused on the general requirements for schemes used in halal proficiency testing and on the competence of the organizations that develop and operate those schemes. Its emphasis is not on individual test results, but on the reliability of the provider, the structure of the scheme, and the controlled management of interlaboratory comparison activities in a halal context.

What halal proficiency testing is meant to support

In general technical terms, proficiency testing compares the results reported by different laboratories or participants when they examine the same or similar test item. In halal-related applications, this can support the assessment of materials, ingredients, processes, or contamination risks that may affect halal status. The standard sets general competence expectations for how such schemes are designed, operated, and interpreted, while leaving room for later technical requirements to be developed for specific fields of application.

Core capability areas for a scheme provider

• technical planning and justification of the scheme
• selection and communication with participants
• control of test item preparation, identification, and distribution
• collection, evaluation, and reporting of results
• protection of confidentiality, impartiality, and data integrity
• consistent use of terminology suited to halal applications

The practical value of this standard is that it supports halal proficiency testing as a structured quality tool rather than a simple comparison exercise. The halal context preserves the general principles of proficiency testing, but it also requires terminology and organisation suited to issues of religious conformity and sensitivity. TS OIC/SMIIC 36 therefore provides a common foundation on which more specific technical requirements can be built for particular sectors.