UK and Cambodia Strengthen Cooperation on Consumer Protection

(Phnom Penh): Cambodian consumers and businesses will be better protected from unsafe products as the UK and Cambodia deepen practical cooperation on product safety and consumer protection. Graham Russell, Chief Executive of the UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), visited Phnom Penh on 13-14 July to work alongside Cambodian regulators, businesses and consumer groups. The visit included observing market surveillance inspections and laboratory testing carried out by Cambodia's Directorate General of Consumer Protection and Competition (DGCC). A seminar bringing together government, industry and consumer organisations gave Cambodian policymakers and businesses the opportunity to learn directly from the UK's experience of building regulatory systems that protect consumers while supporting growth. Participants learned how effective market surveillance, clear enforcement processes and strong institutions can create confidence for consumers and investors alike. The UK is supporting Cambodia to develop a Standard Operating Procedure for product market surveillance, giving inspectors clear, consistent guidance when checking goods in markets and shops across the country. This work will be tested and rolled out to provinces including Phnom Penh and key border regions later in 2026. Graham Russell, Chief Executive of OPSS, said, "The UK has spent decades developing a product safety system that works for consumers and businesses together and those lessons are directly relevant to Cambodia as it integrates more deeply into regional and global markets. Strong, trusted regulation attracts investment, protects people and supports sustainable growth. I have been genuinely impressed by the commitment of Cambodia's regulators, and I look forward to this partnership continuing to deliver practical results for Cambodian consumers and businesses." The visit also reinforced cooperation through the Cambodia-UK Joint Trade and Investment Forum (JTIF), the principal platform for bilateral economic dialogue between the two governments, which brings together UK and Cambodian policymakers, regulators and businesses to advance trade, investment and economic reform. As Cambodia prepares for graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2029 and pursues deeper integration into regional and global trade, a robust product safety framework is increasingly essential, both to protect consumers and to support businesses competing in international markets.=FRESH NEWS