Pasteur Institute of Cambodia (IPC) Announces a Major Turning Point for Cambodian Rice and Pepper Exporters

From now on, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited analyses for pesticide residues in these flagship products, as well as heavy metals in water, are available locally.

 Agilent 6495D Triple Quadrupole LC/MS

This advancement drastically reduces costs, speeds up turnaround times, and minimizes contamination risks during shipments abroad.

A Technical Revolution for Cambodian Agribusiness

Rice and pepper are pillars of the Kingdom's agricultural exports, generating millions of dollars annually and supporting hundreds of thousands of farmers.

Until now, producers had to ship their samples to foreign laboratories—a costly and time-consuming process that hindered their competitiveness against the strict standards of Australian, European, and American markets.

The IPC is making history by installing Cambodia's first two state-of-the-art instruments for these tests: the Agilent 6495D Triple Quadrupole LC/MS and the Agilent 7010C Triple Quadrupole GC/MS.

These exceptionally sensitive instruments detect minute traces of pesticides with precision aligned to international requirements. The result: IPC becomes a one-stop shop for exporters, simplifying access to vital certifications to conquer global markets.

Strategic Partners Driving Economic Growth

"This achievement demonstrates our firm commitment to providing high-quality laboratory services. It strengthens our ability to protect public health, improve food safety, and help the Cambodian agribusiness sector meet national and international standards—for the benefit of local producers and consumers," declares Professor André Spiegel, Director of IPC.

He warmly thanks Australia, through the Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED), for its financial and technical support. Australian Ambassador Derek Yip highlights the economic impact: "The expansion of IPC's accreditation strengthens Cambodia's food safety control system and boosts the competitiveness of agribusiness companies. Australia is delighted to support initiatives that promote export growth, agro-industrial development, and Cambodia's integration into regional and global value chains."

Testimonials and Expansion Outlook

Reaksmey Run, Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment Supervisor at FEDRICE—a recent IPC client—doesn't hide his enthusiasm:

"This is excellent news for Cambodian exporters. Previously, I often sent samples abroad to meet international requirements. Now, with these local services, we'll export more efficiently. I hope other Cambodian companies will take advantage of them."

By the end of 2025, IPC's Environment and Food Safety Laboratory obtained ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from the International Accreditation Service for three key areas: (1) microbiological analyses in food and water, (2) heavy metals in water, and (3) pesticide residues in products like pepper and rice.

An expansion to cashews, fruits, and other crops is planned by the end of 2026, promising further momentum for Cambodian agro-exports.