Phnom Penh, March 30, 2026 — Food Testing Laboratories Committee (FTLC) convened its 3^rd meeting under the chairmanship of Minister Hem Vanndy, Chair of the FTLC. The meeting brought together representatives from six line ministries to advance Cambodia’s food testing ecosystem.

During the meeting, the General Department of Accreditation of Cambodia (GDAC) — Secretariate of the FTLC — reported on first-quarter progress in implementing the approved roadmap, including nationwide data collection on food analysis laboratories contributed by all six ministries.

The committee also reviewed findings from the expert group meeting, particularly the proposed criteria for designating “official laboratories.”

The criteria emphasize internationally aligned standards, including quality management systems, technical competency, adequate equipment, and participation in proficiency testing, ensuring laboratories can deliver reliable and internationally recognized results.

Following the presentations, Minister Hem Vanndy instructed the committee to seek cooperation from ministries-institutions to start designating qualified laboratories as official laboratories. He also encouraged the secretariat to engage private sector laboratories for potential designation and tasked the next meeting with preparing a list of candidate laboratories for official recognition.