Theourn Sreyny dries fish in her solar dryer dome, provided by the CAPFish-Capture project and co-funded by the EU, in 2023. Supplied
The Fisheries Administration (FiA), in collaboration with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), recently conducted a workshop to educate fishery business operators (FBOs) about the export requirements for fish and fishery products.
The initiative aimed to streamline the registration process for businesses seeking to export to international markets, including the EU, according to an August 5 joint press release.
The statement emphasised that ensuring the safety and integrity of these products is the FiA's primary goal, adding that with UNIDO's technical assistance, it has established a comprehensive food safety system and official control measures that align with EU standards.
The system not only facilitates exports but also protects public health, it said.
“Implementing this system has enabled Cambodia to export fish and fishery products to international markets such as China, Australia, New Zealand and other ASEAN member countries, driven by rising demand from Cambodian and Asian communities abroad,” FiA director-general Poum Sotha was quoted as saying in the release.
According to the statement, the FiA is currently working on establishing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) or mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) with several countries to further enhance global market access. The effort involves building the capacity of the fisheries competent authority (FCA) to ensure that fish and fishery products meet the hygiene and safety standards set by importing countries.
To meet these export requirements, the FiA has issued the “Technical Requirements for Official Control and Inspection of Quality and Safety of Fish and Fishery Products”, adopted on March 22.
UNIDO chief technical advisor Shetty Seetharama Thombathu emphasised, “While this document is currently voluntary, it becomes mandatory for those operators who intend to export their fish and fishery products to the EU and other global markets.”
Chhoun Chamnan, director of fisheries post-harvest technology and quality control at the FiA, noted that, “The FCA is preparing for the upcoming audit by the EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG-SANTE), having submitted the official requests and necessary documentation," he said.
Sotha urged all stakeholders in the fishery value chain to collaborate with the FCA to implement the necessary food safety requirements and follow the required processes, from application submission to obtaining the export approval ID.
"It is complicated but worthwhile because if Cambodia passes the DG-SANTE audit, the country will have easier access to other markets. With the EU recognition, Cambodia is proud to have improved its standing in international markets and drawn more investment in its post-harvest fisheries," he explained.
The FCA of FiA plans to invite the audit to list the country for low-risk products, including fish sauce and fermented and dried fish products sourced from inland wild-capture fisheries, as per the release.
