A Thai-Cambodian household brand renowned for delighting consumers with its “Kitchen of the World” products is set to raise manufacturing standards with GMP and HACCP certification.

CP Cambodia Co Ltd reached a milestone achievement last Friday when it was awarded the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification.

CP Cambodia was established in the Kingdom more than 25 years ago by Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited, Thailand’s leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate.

“CP Cambodia is to be commended for overcoming all obstacles in developing a regulated, sustainable and safe food production system as part of its efforts to raise the standard of its products for consumption nationwide.

“GMP and HCCP certification further validates the company’s commitment to deliver quality Thai products manufactured locally to consumers.

“This will not only give Cambodians an affordable way to enjoy popular Thai products, but also develop human capital resources while strengthening Thai-Cambodian relationships at the same time,” Thai Ambassador to Cambodia HE Panyarak Poolthup said as part of his congratulatory speech.

In its vision to become the “Kitchen of the World”, the company is propelled by the philosophy of sustainable business development designed to deliver three pillars of benefits.

These are the benefit of the nation, people and the company itself.

Having obtained recognition for its food safety management systems, CP Cambodia’s diversified businesses – covering a wide range of industries such as animal feed production, animal husbandry, and food and processing production – is set to raise the bar further for quality standards in the Kingdom’s agro-industrial and food industries.

“Receiving both the GMP and HACCP certifications is very important. It shows that the food production systems in Cambodia can reach international standards and that Cambodians are able to access quality and safe food with confidence.

“Quality has and will always be at the heart of our company. It is the principal focus that drives all our production processes, from animal feed production to animal husbandry and finished food products for consumer consumption.

“By advocating quality, adopting and implementing international food safety processes, today we are able to contribute towards promoting the nation as a producer of goods made to the highest standards,” said Thanachit Sriboonlue, the vice-president of CP Cambodia Co Ltd.

GMP and HACCP certifications are awarded for the consistent upholding of health, food safety and sanitation standards.

Two separate food management systems, they are both designed to guarantee food safety based on the “Recommended International Code of Practice General Principles of Food Hygiene” by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

“As a certified practitioner of GMP, CP Cambodia has to ensure operational processes are conducted properly – from the handling of raw materials to the finished product.

“At every point of operation – from factory construction to the inflow of human capital and the circulation of air, to the outflow of sewage – health and food safety guidelines need to be regulated and fulfilled.

“HACCP in contrast, is a system that focuses on the thorough scrutiny of points that could pose a risk to the production line.

“With these two certifications, CP Cambodia has shown it clearly pays the utmost attention to the health and hygiene of its products to ensure quality and safety for consumers.

“I hope that other companies in Cambodia also work towards achieving GMP and HACCP certification and follow the lead set by CP Cambodia,” said Mao Thira, the director of the regulatory department at the Institute of Cambodia (ISC).

And in an industry where manufacturing practices matter in the bolstering of consumer confidence, GMP and HACCP certification will undoubtedly elevate the company’s products – a belief asserted by food research and development specialist Nov Sinath and retail partner Heng Meng Kheang.

“As an employee of CP Cambodia, I am delighted for the company to have been GMP and HACCP certified.

“We have worked hard and made many changes along the production value chain to ensure the products that we make are of the highest quality and safe to be consumed by Cambodians.

“Having the same international quality standards as other countries will mean that consumers in our country will no longer have to rely on imports from neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam because Cambodia can also produce safe food,” Sinath said.

Meng Kheang added: “I have been in business with CP Cambodia for six years. The certification will benefit my business tremendously. Apart from telling customers that CP’s products are made to suit Asian tastes, we can now also tell them that the products are safely and hygienically made to quality international standards.”

The benefits of GMP and HACCP does just not end with building consumer confidence and providing sustainability to the company.

Moving forward, the company has pledged to continue to conduct research and produce further food products, including the development of new products to meet the preferences and needs of consumers of all ages.