Cambodian food exporters offered help meeting Singapore import rules
Support can include early document checks and remote inspections, while approval requirements vary according to each product’s food safety risk.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is ready to assist Cambodian suppliers preparing to seek approval for food exports, including by reviewing paperwork and assessing factories remotely, agency official Victor Li told a Phnom Penh seminar.
Li, who heads SFA’s international cooperation and trade partnerships, said preliminary reviews could identify improvements needed before formal applications begin. Video inspections could also lower businesses’ compliance costs. The Singapore Embassy in Phnom Penh organised the seminar with SFA.
He advised exporters to collaborate with importers familiar with Singapore’s requirements. Obtaining import permits falls to the Singapore importer; Cambodian suppliers are responsible for ensuring that their goods satisfy the applicable regulations.
Checks differ according to risk, Li said. Items such as biscuits and instant noodles generally attract less scrutiny, whereas fruit and vegetables undergo pesticide-residue testing. For meat and eggs, assessments cover production facilities and the exporting nation’s inspection arrangements. Certain seafood, including pufferfish and raw oysters, faces stricter oversight.
Cambodian Industry Minister Hem Vanndy urged producers to put greater emphasis on higher-value processed food rather than raw agricultural exports. He called for spending on processing technology, packaging and quality assurance, alongside accredited laboratories and affordable certification, particularly for smaller businesses.
Former Cambodian Aquaculture Association president Sok Raden said fish producers needed clean water, suitable breeds and reliable feed to meet demanding overseas standards. He also urged the government to simplify export paperwork and support investment in research, breeding and water infrastructure.
