Cambodia Quality Seal (CQS): Recognizing Cambodia’s Enterprises for Their Improved Food Safety Compliance

The CQS initiative, spearheaded by FiA and supported under the CAPFISH Capture, a project funded by European Union and implemented by UNIDO, is the first-ever food safety certification scheme in Cambodia's fisheries sector. It aims to enhance the safety and quality of fish and fishery products in post-harvest fisheries, fostering sustainable and inclusive growth within the industry.

The CQS certification applies to various actors within the fisheries value chain, including processing enterprises, fishing vessels, and collecting centers (landing sites) that adhere to the required standards. By prioritizing food safety, the CQS aims to bolster consumer confidence and promote Cambodia's national brand.

By aligning with the theme of World Food Safety Day 2023, Food Standards Save Lives, H.E. Sopha CHAN, Director General of the Institute of Standards of Cambodia (ISC), Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI), emphasized that the CQS certification scheme is set to enhance the competitiveness of Cambodia’s fish and fishery products, facilitating international trade and safeguarding public health.

The initial round of CQS certifications was awarded to eight post-harvest fishery enterprises that have demonstrated compliance with the rigorous requirements of the scheme. These enterprises are Leang Leng Enterprise, Ny Ieng Neng Enterprise, Samnang Sothea Enterprise, Home Taste Food, Phnom Pich Bunkhea Fish Sauce Enterprise, Thoeurn Sreyny Enterprise, Vong Dara Processing Enterprise, and Heng Hort (Sok Khim) Processing Enterprise.

H.E. Sareth HAS, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), lauded the EU-funded project's impact on promoting food safety and expanding export opportunities: "The CQS certification scheme has been further developed as part of the government's effort to promote safe food for everyone and enhance access to export markets." He also expressed optimism that more CQS logos will soon be displayed on fish and fishery products in Cambodian minimarts and supermarkets.

“To ensure the credibility and integrity of the CQS certification scheme, FiA and UNIDO, with support from a consulting firm called Peterson Projects & Solutions, have thoroughly developed the scheme through a comprehensive and transparent process. The CQS verification audits are conducted by well-trained auditors from FiA and relevant government agencies, ensuring the highest standards of food safety compliance,” said H.E. Sotha POUM, Delegate of the Royal Government, Director General of FiA.

“The competent enterprises that have the potential to export their products to the European Union markets will be selected to provide further support to establish a food safety standard document and traceability system to be ready for the EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG-SANTE) verification in 2024”, added H.E. Sotha POUM.

Bryan FORNARI, Head of Cooperation of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, said working with the Government and the private sector to ensure higher standards of products, including food safety, opens business opportunities and creates decent jobs in the food businesses. “It also ensures the protection of all consumers from potential health risks. The EU CAPFISH programme continues to work with MAFF to improve food safety compliance so that fisheries processed products can be gradually exported from Cambodia to the EU and international markets. We are delighted to see the first concrete results of this work through the development of this Cambodia Quality Seal.”

With the CQS certification in place, Cambodia significantly strides towards becoming a champion in food safety compliance and sustainable fishing practices, benefitting local consumers and international trade.

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For more information, please contact:

1. Dr. Chamnan CHHOUN, Director of the Department of Fisheries Post-harvest Technologies and Quality Control (DFPTQ) of FiA: chhounchamnan@gmail.com
2. Mr. Samruol IM, National Communication and Visibility Expert for the CAPFISH-Capture project: S.IM@unido.org
3. Press and Information Section of the EU Delegation to Cambodia:  delegation-cambodia-ppi@eeas.europa.eu

More information about the project: https://open.unido.org/projects/KH/projects/180039

Project Newsletters: http://newslettercapfish-postharvest.org/achieve