Health: Partnership between Australia and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge to promote food safety and exports

Australia and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) are working to improve food safety and export competitiveness for Cambodia.

On October 16, with the support of the Australian program Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED), the IPC officially launched this collaboration to establish accredited testing services (ISO 17025) - for pesticide residues, antibiotic residues and heavy metals.

Around 70% of companies today face obstacles in obtaining quality certificates for their agricultural products, partly due to the lack of accredited laboratory testing services in Cambodia. Companies are dependent on foreign testing services, resulting in increased risk of contamination, delays, high costs and reduced competitiveness.

Cambodia's 2022 Law on Food Safety also places emphasis on guaranteeing food safety throughout the production process. This is another reason why efficient, high-quality local testing is needed.

The new testing services, to be provided by IPC's Environment and Food Safety Laboratory, will improve product quality and competitiveness on local and international markets, create jobs, enhance food safety and consumer protection, and improve market access for Cambodian agricultural products.

“Access to efficient laboratory services in the country is key to growth and competitiveness. By investing in these laboratories, Australia is helping Cambodian companies to cost-effectively produce safe, high-quality agri-food products for domestic and international markets,” said Australia's Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Derek Yip.

This collaboration is an important step towards improving food safety in Cambodia. By setting up state-of-the-art accredited laboratories, Australia and IPC are supporting public health, local businesses - including women-owned businesses - to meet food safety requirements and access new markets.

Mr. André Spiegel, Director of IPC, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the Australian CAPRED program:

“The new laboratory services will enable IPC to carry out tests for the Cambodian agri-food sector. This will not only improve food safety, but also contribute to the country's sustainable development by increasing business opportunities.”

This support for Cambodia's agri-food sector is part of Australia's ongoing commitment to help Cambodia achieve resilient, inclusive and sustainable economic growth.