Cambodia Launches Halal Standards Registration Campaign to Boost Quality and Competitiveness

The Ministry of Commerce on Friday launched a campaign to promote the registration of Cambodian Halal Product Standards Technical Certification, aimed at enhancing the quality, credibility, and market competitiveness of domestic products. The launching ceremony was held at the Ministry of Commerce under the presidency of H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce and Chairwoman of the Commission for Examination of Halal Products (CEHP), and H.E. Senior Minister Othsman Hassan, Vice Chairman of the CEHP. The event brought together representatives from relevant ministries and institutions, the National Committee for the Promotion of the “One Village, One Product” Movement, the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, business federations and associations, as well as numerous companies and enterprises. Addressing the gathering, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul highlighted that the campaign is the first initiative of its kind designed to promote local products and create added value through Halal certification. She noted that the campaign focuses on three key objectives: The first objective is to disseminate the newly issued Prakas No. 070, which introduces several improvements to the Halal certification process. The revised regulation allows natural persons to apply for Halal product registration, shortens the registration period from 90 days to 60 working days, extends certificate validity from one year to two years, and increases the notification period for certificate renewal from 30 days to 90 days before expiration. The second objective is to raise public awareness of Halal standards and promote the benefits of using the Cambodian Halal logo as a trusted mark of quality and compliance. The third objective is to strengthen compliance by informing businesses and stakeholders about legal measures against the unauthorised use or misuse of Halal labels and certifications. On the occasion, H.E. Senior Minister Othsman Hassan delivered a presentation on the development of Halal affairs in Cambodia and shared experiences from other countries. Technical experts also provided presentations on certification procedures, while representatives from local enterprises shared their practical experiences in obtaining and utilising Halal certification. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the awareness-raising and registration promotion campaign will be conducted from July to December 2026. Following its launch in Phnom Penh, the campaign will expand to key provinces, including Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, Kep, and Preah Sihanouk, where on-site service booths will be established to provide guidance, consultations, and application submission services for interested businesses. By Chea Vannak