FAO Cambodia, in collaboration with the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute of the Government of Cambodia, trained 40 stakeholders from the livestock sector about the ways to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and implement related Codex guidelines. Such workshop of trainers was organized for the first time in the country for veterinarians and animal farmer trainers, taking place on 18 and 19 October 2023 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.   

“This training is crucial for our future, and I am pleased more people will have more knowledge about AMR”, said Dr. Tum Sothyra during the opening of the training, the Director of the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute. Veterinarians and livestockfarmers from 20 provinces learned about Codex AMR texts, as well as other related Codex texts on Good Hygienic Practices for Milk, Meat and Eggs; General Principles for Food Hygiene; Good Animal Feeding, Maximum Residue Limits for Drugs and Pesticides Use; and the current AMR situation in Cambodia.  

Dim Theng, the Codex National Focal Point for Cambodia and the Deputy Director of the Consumer Protection and Fraud Repression Directorate, highlighted that the course addressed the need for an in-depth understanding of the multiple aspects of AMR. “This training also helped participants to learn more how to develop inter-disciplinary, multi-sectorial One Health responses and interventions to reduce the global threat of AMR,” Theng said. 

Khe Dalin, Veterinary Officer,noted that this training provided him with important antimicrobial use and resistance knowledge. “Currently, antimicrobials are easily accessible from almost all drug stores in Cambodia, but sellers still have limited knowledge of resistance and use. We are happy to receive the positive feedback after this training.I believe this contributes to reducing the use of antimicrobials in animal farms and strengthening the enforcement of Codex AMR texts in our country”, said Pisey Oum, ACT Project National Coordinator in Cambodia.  

The training has been implementedas part of the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT)” project, and there are more similar workshops planned in the future.  

Foodborne AMR is a food safety issue. The implementation of Codex AMR texts reduces the emergence and transmission of AMR in food systems, thereby protecting consumer health and ensuring fair trade practices. The ACT project is supporting the implementation of Codex standards not only in Cambodia but also in Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Colombia, Mongolia, Nepal and Pakistan.  

Read More

Action to support implementation of Codex AMR Texts (ACT)