The National Standards Council (NSC) approved 36 Cambodia Standards (CS) during its 29th meeting, held at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation on December 26, 2024.

Presided over by Minister HEM Vanndy, Chair of the NSC, the Council reviewed 41 standards, approving 36 of them. Three standards related to artificial intelligence (AI) and two revised standards for fish sauce and soy sauce will be addressed in the upcoming council meeting.

The approved standards cover a wide range of industries, including construction and building materials, chemical substances, cereals, vegetables and fruits, management systems, electrical and electronics, rubber products, automotive products, cosmetics, wood products, and textiles.

Highlighting the strategic importance of standard development, Minister Vanndy stated: “Adopting international standards as national standards allows us to attract investment, enhance local industries, promote bilateral and multilateral trade, and ensure safety and quality for consumers.”

The meeting tasked the 12 technical committees with identifying additional high-priority standards for development, emphasizing standards that promote exports or enhance the domestic competitiveness of key industries.

During the meeting, Minister Vanndy urged the technical committees to develop plans for implementing the approved standards, including enhancing laboratory services to support compliance. He also directed the NSC secretariat to study whether the existing technical committees could oversee the development of standards for jewelry and precious stone products or if a new committee should be established.

Following NSC approval, the next steps include notifying international organizations such as ISO and IEC about the new standards, publishing them in the national registry, and initiating an implementation phase to enable businesses and institutions to adapt. 

These approved standards reaffirm the Royal Government of Cambodia's commitment to improving regulatory frameworks in line with international practices, enhancing quality and safety across sectors, and strengthening Cambodia’s competitiveness in global markets.