The Kingdom of Cambodia’s General Department of Accreditation of Cambodia (GDAC) has reached two significant milestones in strengthening the country’s national quality infrastructure. In April 2026, GDAC successfully maintained its status as a signatory to the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for the accreditation of testing laboratories. Building on this internationally recognised foundation, GDAC, which falls under the authority of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), has also expanded its accreditation portfolio to include calibration laboratories, medical testing laboratories and certification bodies for quality and food safety management systems.
The achievement is the result of continuous technical support provided by PTB International Cooperation through the regional project “Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for ASEAN“. Working closely with GDAC, PTB experts provided long-term consultancy to strengthen institutional capacities, develop accreditation procedures, train technical assessors and implement internationally recognised accreditation schemes.
As a result of this sustained cooperation, GDAC is now in a position to offer accreditation for:
- Calibration laboratories according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017,
- Medical testing laboratories according to ISO 15189:2022,
- Certification bodies for Quality Management Systems according to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 and ISO/IEC 17021-3:2019 and
- Certification bodies for Food Safety Management Systems according to ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO 22003:2022.
These new accreditation services significantly broaden Cambodia’s national accreditation system and represent another important step towards a robust and internationally aligned quality infrastructure.
Building sustainable institutional capacity
Developing an accreditation body capable of operating in accordance with international standards requires much more than introducing new procedures. It demands long-term institutional development, highly qualified technical personnel and transparent accreditation processes.
Recognising this, PTB accompanied GDAC over a period of several years through intensive technical consultancy focusing on enabling GDAC to independently operate and continuously develop internationally recognised accreditation schemes. This support covered the establishment of accreditation documentation and procedures, technical assessor training, mock assessments, mentoring during pilot assessments, implementation of international standards and strengthening institutional governance. This long-term approach has enabled GDAC to develop the competence and confidence required to deliver reliable accreditation services that meet international expectations.
Strengthening Cambodia’s national quality infrastructure
Accreditation forms a cornerstone of every national quality infrastructure. It provides independent confirmation that conformity assessment bodies are technically competent to perform testing, calibration or certification activities in accordance with internationally accepted standards.
For Cambodian laboratories and certification bodies, access to competent national accreditation services reduces the need to seek accreditation abroad, making accreditation more accessible while lowering costs and administrative burdens. At the same time, nationally available accreditation strengthens confidence in the competence of conformity assessment services among regulators, industry and international trading partners.
The newly established accreditation schemes address important sectors of Cambodia’s economy. Accreditation of calibration laboratories enhances measurement reliability and industrial quality assurance. Accreditation of medical laboratories contributes to improved healthcare services and greater confidence in laboratory results. Accreditation of certification bodies for quality and food safety management systems supports Cambodian enterprises in demonstrating compliance with internationally recognised management standards, facilitating participation in regional and global supply chains.
Supporting regional integration
The achievement also contributes to the broader objectives of ASEAN economic integration. As regional trade continues to grow, internationally recognised accreditation services become increasingly important for reducing technical barriers to trade and promoting the mutual confidence necessary for the acceptance of conformity assessment results across borders.
Through the regional project “Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for ASEAN”, PTB International Cooperation has supported ASEAN Member States in developing robust quality infrastructure institutions that enable businesses to compete in international markets while protecting consumers, health and the environment.
A milestone with lasting impact
The successful expansion of GDAC’s accreditation portfolio demonstrates what can be achieved through long-term partnership and sustained institutional capacity development. While the establishment of new accreditation schemes represents an important technical milestone, its real significance lies in creating a strong national institution capable of supporting Cambodia’s economic development well into the future.
With its expanded range of accreditation services, GDAC is now better equipped to serve Cambodian laboratories, certification bodies, regulators and industry, strengthening confidence in the country’s quality infrastructure and contributing to Cambodia’s continued integration into regional and international markets.
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- E. Chhrien Sengkong, Director General of the General Department of Accreditation of Cambodia (GDAC), Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), stated:
“The success of this important project reflects the dedication and hard work of the Department of Accreditation team, together with the invaluable support provided through PTB’s projects. We sincerely appreciate the technical assistance and cooperation that have enabled Cambodia to establish an internationally recognised accreditation system.”
