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Abu Dhabi / WAM
The United Arab Emirates, represented by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), and the National Accreditation System (ENAS), signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), with the UK Accreditations Services (UKAS).
The MoUs will provide accreditation to Halal certification partners for products in the United Kingdom and Europe, according to the UAE requirements for Halal. The first MoU requires an exchange of information on the UAE system for control of products and their applications, according to Abdullah Al Maeeni, Director-General of ESMA.
Al Maeeni said that ESMA constantly seeks to be in line with the leadership’s directives to develop the Islamic economy. The UAE has already taken many steps towards establishing an integrated global system for the Halal sector.
The UAE has been able to launch a number of vital international initiatives and conclude MoUs that deal with the development of the Halal sector, including the current memorandum.
He also praised the UAE’s efforts to provide a variety of mechanisms to strengthen the sector and control systems for halal products, as well as the supervision of Halal certification agencies around the world to ensure the accuracy of the tests carried out and the quality of the products. The move is to benefit the certification bodies in other countries in the European Union.
The memorandum of cooperation concluded by ESMA with the British side aims to make a quantum leap in granting accreditation and Halal certificates to the food industry and halal cosmetics industry in the United Kingdom and its neighbouring countries in line with the requirements of the UAE Halal Control System.
On the other hand, Dr. Rehab Al Ameri, Director of the National Accreditation Department, signed another MoU with UKAS to enhance cooperation in the field of accreditation of conformity assessment bodies.
She said that it will include the exchange of specialised expertise with the British side, which contributes to knowledge transfer and benefits from the technical expertise and the provision of accreditation services that add to the quality and efficiency of services provided by the conformity assessment bodies.
Dr Rehab confirmed that the MoU has entered into force and the mechanisms of joint work between the national accreditation system and UKAS have been activated for accreditation in specialised and critical technical sectors.