MI and CCF Launch a Capacity Building Program to Enhance Food Safety Measures and Market Surveillance in Cambodia
July 4, 2023
Phnom Penh, Cambodia - In a proactive move towards establishing robust food safety regulations and improving market surveillance in Cambodia, Mekong Institute (MI) and the Consumer Protection, Competition, and Fraud Repression (CCF) Directorate-General organized the first training under the ‘Capacity Building Program on Food Safety Legal Framework and Better Market Surveillance for Food Inspectors’ on July 4, 2023.
Held as one of the PROSAFE (Promoting Safe Food for Everyone) in-country initiatives, the capacity-building program is expected to enhance the technical expertise of provincial officials engaged in food inspection, thereby facilitating better market surveillance techniques through improved monitoring operations.
“Today's training is another vital step towards strengthening the technical capacity of the CCF provincial officials on implementing the new Food Safety Legal Framework in the perspective of market surveillance,” stated Ms. Maria Theresa S. Medialdia, Director of the Agricultural Development and Commercialization in MI, during her opening remarks. She highlighted that market surveillance is a critical part of ensuring that consumers have access to safe and healthy food choices, making the training valuable for food inspectors who are expected to be well-equipped in detecting and responding to food safety hazards.
Led by PROSAFE Alumni, the training brought together 32 food inspectors and laboratory officials from 11 provincial branches of CCF. The course comprised six modules designed to cover essential aspects of food safety and market surveillance. One of the modules introduced the New Healthy Market Standard, a model for better market surveillance practice from Thailand, which the PROSAFE alumni learned during their training in MI.
“Empowering our provincial officials with more inspection and surveillance strategies will contribute to the successful implementation of the Food Safety Law, creating a safer marketplace for all,” emphasized H.E. Phan Oun, Director-General of CCF. He added that, “the CCF is determined to champion consumer interests and strive for excellence in safeguarding public health.”
Following the training, participants are expected to make an impact in their respective provinces by conducting echo seminars as part of their action plans. These seminars will be instrumental in disseminating acquired knowledge, fostering a collaborative approach to food safety, and amplifying market surveillance efforts.
The capacity building program is being supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme through PROSAFE. The project has been building regional and local competence of the local government, private sector, and academic institutes to address the food safety issues of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV).