Cambodia Inveestment Review
Cambodia has taken a meaningful step to strengthen its agri-food export competitiveness, following the expansion of internationally accredited food safety laboratory testing at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC), with support from the Australian Government.
The expansion allows Cambodian exporters to complete a wider range of internationally recognised food safety tests domestically, reducing costs, shortening turnaround times, and lowering the risks associated with shipping samples overseas. For producers of rice and pepper—two of Cambodia’s most important agricultural exports—the move addresses a long-standing constraint in accessing high-value international markets.
From overseas testing to domestic certification
Until recently, many Cambodian agri-food exporters relied on laboratories outside the country to meet regulatory requirements imposed by importing markets. While effective, this process added time, expense, and uncertainty to export operations, particularly for small and mid-sized producers with limited margins.
Read More: Cambodian Tech Enterprises Pioneer Digital Transformation of Agriculture Supply Chain
With the latest accreditation, IPC can now conduct ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited testing for heavy metals in water and pesticide residues in rice and pepper. This international standard is widely recognised by regulators in Australia, the European Union, and the United States, enabling test results generated in Cambodia to be accepted directly by overseas buyers and authorities.
IPC is the first laboratory in the country to install two advanced instruments dedicated to pesticide residue analysis: the Agilent 6495D Triple Quadrupole LC/MS and the Agilent 7010C Triple Quadrupole GC/MS. These systems provide ultra-high sensitivity and accuracy, allowing for the detection of trace residues in line with international benchmarks.
Together, these capabilities position IPC as a one-stop testing provider for exporters seeking to meet the requirements of multiple international markets, reducing duplication and streamlining compliance across supply chains.
Strengthening food safety and export credibility
According to IPC Director André Spiegel, the expanded accreditation reflects a broader institutional commitment to strengthening both public health protection and export readiness.
He noted that the enhanced laboratory capacity improves Cambodia’s ability to comply with national and international food safety standards while supporting local producers and processors seeking access to regulated export markets. Beyond trade, stronger domestic testing capacity also reinforces food safety oversight for products consumed locally.
The initiative has been supported through the Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development, which focuses on building long-term economic capability and private-sector competitiveness rather than short-term assistance.
Australia’s focus on trade-enabling infrastructure
Derek Yip, Australia’s Ambassador to Cambodia, said the expanded laboratory accreditation strengthens Cambodia’s food safety control system and enhances the competitiveness of agri-food businesses.
He highlighted that improved in-country testing capacity supports export growth, encourages further development of Cambodia’s agro-processing sector, and deepens the country’s integration into regional and global value chains. In highly regulated food markets, the presence of internationally accredited domestic laboratories is increasingly viewed as a signal of regulatory maturity and supply chain reliability.
For Cambodia, where agriculture remains a key source of employment and export revenue, such infrastructure is considered essential to moving beyond raw commodity exports toward higher-value processing and branding.
Exporters see practical benefits
The impact is already being felt by exporters such as FEDRICE, a recent client of IPC’s expanded services.
According to Reaksmey Run, Quality, Health & Safety, Environment Supervisor at FEDRICE, the availability of accredited testing in Cambodia significantly improves operational efficiency. Previously, samples often had to be sent abroad to meet international market requirements, adding cost and time to export processes. With more services now available domestically, exporters can respond more quickly to buyer demands and manage compliance more effectively.
Industry observers note that these benefits are particularly important for smaller exporters, for whom overseas testing costs can act as a barrier to entering premium export markets.
Expanding coverage beyond rice and pepper
By the end of 2025, IPC’s Laboratory of Environment and Food Safety had achieved ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for microbiological testing in food and water, heavy metal testing in water, and pesticide residue testing in food products such as rice and pepper.
Looking ahead, IPC plans to expand pesticide residue testing in 2026 to include cashew, fruit, and other agricultural crops. This expansion is expected to support diversification within Cambodia’s agri-food sector and strengthen the country’s position as a reliable supplier in increasingly regulated global food markets.
While challenges remain in logistics, market access, and branding, the ability to conduct internationally recognised food safety testing at home removes a critical constraint—bringing Cambodia closer to competing on quality, not just volume, in global agri-food trade.
