Cambodia Enhances Accreditation System to Boost Market Access

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 4, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia is actively working to bolster its national accreditation system and expand the utilization of accredited testing, inspection, and certification services. The move is aimed at enhancing product quality, building regulatory confidence, and facilitating greater access to both domestic and international markets. At its sixth meeting, the National Accreditation Council of Cambodia (CANC) endorsed these measures. The council reviewed the compliance status of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) and discussed the quality management system and accreditation schemes of the General Department of Accreditation of Cambodia (GDAC). Officials indicated that the proposals would progressively require public and private CABs, including laboratories, inspection, and certification bodies, to obtain accreditation. Furthermore, CANC plans to encourage factories, enterprises, and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to engage accredited services. Industry Minister Hem Vanndy, who chairs CANC, emphasized that accreditation is crucial for fostering confidence in the competence and reliability of Cambodia’s conformity assessment system. "Accreditation is not merely about obtaining a certificate. It is about building confidence that our laboratories and conformity assessment bodies have the competence to produce reliable results," he stated. CANC reached a consensus in principle on three key proposals: mandating accreditation for CABs, promoting accredited services among enterprises, and encouraging regulators to incorporate accreditation into technical regulations. The GDAC, serving as the Secretariat for CANC, maintains international recognition through mutual recognition arrangements, including with the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation. Officials believe that the expansion of accreditation will strengthen confidence in testing and certification results, support competitiveness, and reduce technical barriers to trade under the principle of "test once, recognize everywhere."