PROSAFE Alumni Take Action to Contribute to Improving Food Safety Practices and Compliance Among Cambodian MSMEs
May 14, 2023
Spearheaded by PROSAFE Alumni, Mekong Institute (MI), in close collaboration with CAMKPI Professional Academy and FQMS Solutions, organized a local training program titled “Food Safety Standards and Management Tools for Cambodian MSMEs” on May 13-14, 2023 in Phnom Penh.
The two-day course aimed to promote food safety management tools and practices that small and medium enterprises can apply to produce safe and high-quality food products that follow international food processing standards. This training program was developed to help business owners, managers, and employees understand the fundamental principles of food safety, including the hazards that can occur during food handling, processing, and distribution. The essential elements of effective food quality management and the tools to implement such systems are included in the training module.
“Cambodia is a vital player in the global food industry, and MSMEs are the backbone of the local economy. It is therefore crucial that we take all necessary steps to ensure that our food meets the most stringent quality and safety standards,” said Ms. Maria Theresa S. Medialdia, Director of the Agricultural Development and Commercialization Department of MI, in her opening remarks. She added that the training course was an opportunity to network and form partnerships to advance food safety best practices and ensure the availability of safe and high-quality food products in the market.
Promoting a food safety culture among food producers and processors, the training equipped 30 participants with various management tools and strategies to help food businesses maintain high levels of food safety, build consumer trust, and align their practices with local and international standards.
At the end of her speech, Ms. Medialdia said, “By producing safe food, you're not only safeguarding your business reputation, but you're also contributing to the overall growth of the food industry in Cambodia.”
The local training was supported through PROSAFE (Promoting Safe Food for Everyone), a five-year project which aims to engage key actors from both the public and private sectors and put in place an integrated mechanism leading toward significant changes in food safety perception and practices in the region.