Phnom Penh, 21 August 2024

Over 200 stakeholders from the agriculture, food, and nutrition sectors gathered in Phnom Penh to commemorate Cambodia’s World Food Safety Day 2024. This year’s event, led by the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Development Enterprises (iDE), Helen Keller International, World Vision International and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, centred on the theme, "Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected."

The gathering brought together policymakers, development partners, non-governmental organizations, subject matter experts, private sector representatives, researchers, educators, students, farmers, and youth groups, all united in their commitment to ensuring food safety for everyone. This celebration marked Cambodia's third annual World Food Safety Day.

H.E. Dr Ouk Rabun, Senior Minister and Chairman of CARD emphasized food safety is the responsibility of everyone. He remarked that safe food is crucial for health, livelihood, and well-being of all people. Promoting food safety is the key factor for a sustainable food system, human capital development, and as a pre-condition for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. “Therefore,” he said, “I would like to call on development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector, media, youth, and the general population to participate with the government in strengthening food systems to make food safe for consumers and to mainstream food safety into public health policy aimed at reducing the prevalence of foodborne disease, and to attract more national and international tourists and help facilitate trade opportunities for food businesses which will contribute to economic and social development in Cambodia.”

Ms Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative in Cambodia, remarked, "In our interconnected global food supply chain, food safety hazards can rapidly escalate from local issues to international crises, making preparedness more vital than ever. Food safety is everyone's responsibility, spanning the entire food chain, from producers to consumers, and including regulatory bodies. We must all remain vigilant and prepared.”

Dr Marianna Trias, WHO Representative to Cambodia added, “Food safety is a shared responsibility. However, there are times when, despite our best efforts, the unexpected can still happen and disrupt even the best-laid plans. It's essential for us all to stay prepared, interconnected and flexible in responding to emerging threats. We must collaborate to ensure our surveillance systems are integrated across the health, animal and environment sectors to identify early warnings and prevent outbreaks before they can escalate. WHO is fully committed to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia and all our partners to keep our food safe and protect everyone’s health.”

With over 60 percent of Cambodia's population being youth, this year’s World Food Safety Day celebrations emphasized the importance of engaging young people in food safety issues. The event featured keynote addresses from leaders, panel discussions with experts and youth leaders, and the "Youth4FoodSafety: A Visual Art Competition," which provided a platform for young participants to convey key food safety messages through posters, videos, and photos. Out of many entries, nine young individuals from various educational institutions across Cambodia were selected as winners.

Cambodia’s ongoing commitment to World Food Safety Day, in partnership with international and local stakeholders, demonstrates a growing global recognition of the critical role food safety plays in public health and economic stability. Since beginning its observance in 2022, Cambodia has demonstrated its dedication to advancing food safety, upholding rigorous food standards, implementing effective safety and quality management practices, and ensuring traceability in response to unexpected incidents.

Read more

World Food Safety Day events this year
Khmer Times article
Phnom Penh Post article

Photo © CARD