Cambodia ups its Codex game

As an initial and strategic step to reinforce the national Codex programme in Cambodia — especially following the restructuring of competent authorities responsible for Codex — a High-Level Advocacy Meeting and a Codex Orientation Workshop were held in Phnom Penh from 27 to 29 May 2025 with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and the Codex Trust Fund. These events were organized in collaboration with the Institute of Standards of Cambodia (ISC), Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI)

The event aimed to raise awareness among senior decision-makers and build national capacity to establish a well-functioning national Codex programme. It also sought to enhance Cambodia’s ability to participate effectively in Codex work and to identify appropriate mechanisms for coordination among relevant stakeholders. Participants included policymakers, technical officials, academic representatives, and members of both the public and private sectors.

The meeting was opened with welcome remarks from Ms Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative to Cambodia and followed by the opening remarks from H.E. KE Ky, Secretary of State, MISTI.

During the high-level meeting, Sridhar Dharmapuri, FAO Senior Food Safety and Nutrition Officer, highlighted the importance of Codex with a presentation on Codex and its links to relevant WTO agreements. These messages were further reinforced by Pisan Pongsapitch, a food safety expert, who shared Thailand’s experience with effective Codex participation and the resulting benefits. 

At the orientation workshop, Panpilad Saikaew, project coordinator, FAO, gave an overview of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and the process of elaborating Codex texts. She also introduced participants to the Codex website. Later, Pisan Pongsapitch discussed the key components of a national Codex programme, including the Codex Contact Point (CCP) and the National Codex Committee (NCC) or equivalent mechanisms. It was emphasized that, given limited national resources, Cambodia should prioritize its participation in Codex work based on national interests. Recommended priority topics were proposed for the establishment of sub-technical committees.

To enhance understanding of the structure and functions of a national Codex programme, group exercises were conducted on topics such as the roles and draft composition of the NCC and CCP, prioritization of Codex topics, and the formation of sub-technical committees.

Participants also received training on how to develop and present national positions on Codex issues. Additional group exercises focused on drafting procedures for developing national positions and submitting written comments.

Throughout the workshop, attendees engaged in discussions on the role of Codex in international trade, the importance of a well-functioning national Codex programme, how to actively engage in Codex work, and strategies to improve coordination among national stakeholders. They also reflected on the current challenges and progress Cambodia faces in its Codex participation.

This event marks a significant step toward strengthening Cambodia’s food safety system and its capacity to actively contribute to global Codex standard-setting processes.

© FAO / Panpilad Saikaew