The Cambodian commerce ministry has released a draft for its first food law that will set up a Food Safety Authority aimed at protecting domestic consumers and ensuring exports meet international standards.
The new law has listed a number of punishable offences, including the sale of food containing harmful ingredients, mislabeling of food, selling food prepared in unhygienic conditions, and operating a license-less food business.
United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) country representative Nina Brandstrup was quoted by the Cambodia Daily as saying: "The law is needed because there isn't one. Cambodia has the ambition to become a major food exporter, and in order for that to happen, they need to respect the food laws of other countries, and they can only do that if they have a well-performing food law in Cambodia."
Brandstrup was speaking at a workshop organised by FAO and the Ministry of Commerce that was aimed at generating feedback regarding the law from NGOs and businesses.
The new law is expected to be finalised and sent to the council of ministers by the end of August.
According to commerce minister Sun Chanthol, the country needed the law to ensure consumers that the food being sold was safe.
Chanthol said: "It is the most important aspect of the safety of our people and safety for all of us. We are consumers of food, so it is important that we feel comfortable when we eat the food and we're sure that it's good, with less chemicals that can destroy our health."
The food law was drafted by the FAO and relevant government ministries in consultation with local and international lawyers and representatives of the private sector. Work began in February last year for the law and a finished draft is set to be completed within six weeks.
