Notifications for Cambodia (2 notifications)

The Law on Food Safety promulgated on 8 June 2022 comprises 43 articles and 35 definitions, divided into 11 chapters. It aims to regulate frameworks and mechanisms for managing and ensuring safety, quality, hygiene and compliance of food in all stages of the food production chain in order to provide protection of health and safe food for consumers and ensuring fair practices in food trade.According to Article 5 of the Law on Food Safety, ministries or institutions involved in food safety and quality have authority to prepare technical regulations where applicable based on national or international food standards, codes of practices and guidelines.The Law on Food Safety gives mandate to the following ministries as competent institutions to govern food safety control throughout the food chain. These include Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Economy and Finance.The food safety measures (requirements) as defined in Article 6, shall be based on key principles including food shall be safe, of good quality, hygienic and suitable for human consumption and food control shall be based on food safety measures or technical regulations as defined in Article 7.Food business operators, at every stage of the food chain, have the primary role and responsibility for ensuring the safety of their food products and shall collaborate with relevant competent authorities for implementation of food safety measures to avoid or mitigate risks posed by products (Article 11).According to this Law (Articles 13-15) the food business operators have been grouped into three categories based on the nature of their business for example big, medium or small enterprise.The punishment is applied to food business operators, who fail to implements provisions as stipulated by this law (Articles 33-40).

The Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine promulgated on 3 May 2022 comprises 113 articles and 44 definitions, divided into 15 chapters. It aims to manage plant health for all types of plant resources; promote agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and maintaining quality and safety of agricultural products. The law also focuses on phytosanitary security, facilitating trade and transit of plants and plant products. Additionally, it aims to contribute to socio-economic development, welfare promotion and public health while ensuring the sustainability of natural resources and agro-ecological system in Cambodia. This law reflects Cambodia's high commitment in harmonizing its phytosanitary regulations to the international standards.Article 23 of the Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine:Natural persons or legal entities that carry out plant protection measures or conduct operations to eliminate pests in crop production have an obligation to participate in ensuring the food safety and plant products.Plant products harvested from the plantation for the purpose of distributing in the market or used as food for humans, animal feed or as raw materials for food processing shall ensure food safety with free of harmful substances, even physical, biological or chemical substances or components of pesticide residues below the maximum level set by any technical regulation or reference standards recognized and used locally or internationally or in accordance with the requirements of the importing countries in the case of crop products or the plant products are exported for food.The Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine reflects Cambodia's high commitment in harmonizing its phytosanitary regulations to the International Standards.Specifically, as provided for under Article 26 of the Law, the phytosanitary measures shall be in compliance with International Standards adopted by the International Plant Protection Convention.