Dubai, UAE: DuBiotech,
Dubai’s dedicated biotechnology and research park announces HITS, as a new
business partner during a ceremony during which HITS was awarded certification
by Dubai Accreditation Center to provide quality assured testing of products
such as food and cosmetics for Halal integrity and safety standards.
HITS is the
first private laboratory in the Middle East dedicated to the safety of consumer
products its inauguration marks a step towards the UAE government’s vision of guaranteeing
safer consumer products in the UAE and GCC market. The laboratory will work
closely with regulators such as the Emirates Authority for Standardization and
Metrology (ESMA) the body responsible ensuring that standards in the UAE are in
line with international scientific developments, including ISO standards, Abu
Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council and Dubai
Municipality to ensure the UAE provides its citizens with the highest quality
products.
Last
month, Dubai Municipality announced plans for a new International Centre for Halal
Food and Product accreditation in compliance with the Islamic law. HITS will be
part of this drive by undertaking tests for halal food and other products to
ensure that they are free from any chemical or artificial additives which do
not comply with Islamic Law.
In addition, the ability of the
lab to provide Halal testing contributes to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum’s vision of positioning Dubai as the “Center of Islamic Economy”. The
GCC food market is worth an estimated $85 billion, Muslim consumers spend over
$1 trillion on food and more than $26 billion on cosmetics and personal care
products worldwide. This is expected to increase to $1.6 trillion and $39
billion respectively by 2019.
Today’s event was hosted by
Marwan Abdulaziz, Executive Director of DuBiotech as Eng. Amina Ahmed Mohammed,
Director of Dubai Accreditation Department and Mr. Hulusi Senturk the President
of the Turkish Standard Institution presented Dr. Hamed Jamal, Managing
Director of HITS, Dr. Geetha Vasan Thakumar, Chief Technical Officer at HITS
with the official accreditation that allows testing to begin in the new
laboratory facility.
Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Executive Director
of the TECOM’s Sciences Cluster said: “I am proud to announce
HITS as a new business partner, once again demonstrating our ability to draw
vital technology to DuBiotech that benefits the whole community. We are proud
to be contributing to the Islamic Economy by providing a platform for Halal testing
and accreditation. Attracting companies such as HITS and facilitating their
partnership between ESMA and DAC is another example of how DuBiotech bridges
the gap between the public and the private sector to support the UAE government
in overcoming issues that are crucial to the residents of the UAE and beyond.
“Our strategic intent is to build
a sustainable business environment that fosters foreign direct investment and
incubates innovation and entrepreneurship. This is very important to reduce
UAE’s dependence on imported products, medicines, technology and services. This approach is also directly
related to the government’s wider vision of developing a knowledge-based,
sustainable and diversified economy.”
Dr.
Hamed Jamal, Managing Director of HITS also said: “Food safety and Halal
accreditation are very complex procedures but in turn, they are vital to ensure
the safety of consumers using these products. As the first private laboratory
offering this service in the region, we are proud to be part of ensuring that
the products in the UAE market and beyond are as safe as they can be. We look
forward to working with regulatory bodies across the UAE to further improve the
standards in this area.”
