Cambodian goods to be certified

The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) will begin promoting the Institute of Standards of Cambodia (ISC) certifications by the end of 2012 in an effort to educate people about certified goods, according to ministry officials. 

The program is in order to boost consumer confidence in Cambodian products, said Seng Chhang, director of the MIME’s Certification Department of the Institute of Standards of Cambodia. 

“We are taking this measure to increase the consumer base of Cambodian products. We look at foreign countries and their consumers use their own countries’ products, whereas our products don’t have dates or stamps so foreigners and Cambodians don’t buy them,” he said. 

There will be a program to educate people about poor-quality goods, although measures were not specified, he said. 

“It will start, at least, by the end of the year. We have been arranging the funds and someone to assist us implement the program,” he said. 

Heng Heang, president of Phnom Penh Small and Medium-Size Industry, said that these measures could be good, but there would be an impact on some producers who have sites or packaging that do not meet the standard requirements.