Meeting Held Between the Centre’s Manager and the Long-Serving Director of the Croatian Standards Institute, Mr. Igor Božičević

On Monday, 16 January 2026, a meeting was held between the Manager of the Centre for Halal Quality Certification, Mr. Muhamed Mandžić, and the long-serving Director of the Croatian Standards Institute, Mr. Igor Božičević, as part of the many years of successful cooperation between the two institutions. The meeting had a farewell character, marking the end of Mr. Božičević's term, and provided an opportunity to exchange final messages and express gratitude for many years of professional cooperation.

On this occasion, Mr. Muhamed Mandžić emphasized the importance of institutional links and continuous dialogue between the halal certification system and the national standards body, stressing that such cooperation had been key to strengthening the Centre's professional capacities, aligning with international requirements, and enhancing the credibility of the halal system in the Republic of Croatia.

For his part, Mr. Igor Božičević reflected on the long-standing cooperation with the Centre, highlighting the specificity and importance of halal quality as a significant segment of economic development, and emphasizing the need to further link standardization processes with international market requirements.

As a lasting outcome of this cooperation, the Centre's standard issued in 2010 was highlighted, which last year successfully underwent a new revision process and was adopted as HRN BAS 1049:2025. This standard represents a fundamental document for the development of standardization and the systematic improvement of quality, providing Croatian companies with the necessary framework to strengthen their competitiveness in the global market.

During the discussions, further emphasis was placed on the importance of institutional networking, which Mr. Božičević consistently advocated during his term, recognizing halal quality as a relevant and promising segment of the modern economy. His professional support was significant in standardization processes and in strengthening the professional competencies of the stakeholders involved.

The Centre for Halal Quality Certification thanks Mr. Božičević for years of trust, open communication and successful partnership, and wishes him much success in his future professional and private life.