RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
5 May 2003
(03-2394)
Working Party on the
Accession of NepalOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF NEPAL
Legislative Action Plan
Revision
The Government of the Kingdom of Nepal has submitted the attached revised Legislative
Action Plan with a request that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
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Page 2
The document is divided into three sections.  The first section provides the synoptic picture of the
progress in adoption of legislation.  The second section provides revised agenda for enacting laws and/or
adopting regulations/decrees for WTO conformity.  The third section provides a calendar plan indicating
priorities.
Section I:  Progress in Adoption of Legislation
Since the submission of the Legislative Action Plan to the Working Party on the Accession of the
Kingdom of Nepal on 21 May 2002, the following progress has taken place in adoption of legislation.
The following legislation acts approved by the Parliament, have received royal seal and are in
force:
- Copyright Act 2002;
- Special Court Act 2002;
- Nepal Chartered Accountant Act (First Amendment) 2002;
- Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act 2002;
- Several Acts relating to amending  Court Ma nagement and Judicial Administration Act 2002;
and
- Income Tax Act 2002.
The Department/Ministry has completed the following activities:
- Preparation of a preliminary draft of Law on Anti-dumping Measures;
- Preparation of a preliminary draft of Customs Act (Amendment) and Customs Regulation
(Amendment);
- Preparation of a preliminary draft of Export Import Act and Export Import Regulations; and
- Preliminary draft of Industrial Policy Law.
The following bills/instruments were endorsed by the Councils of Ministers:
- Health Service (Regulation and Standard) Act 2002;
- Plant Resource Act 2002;
- Seeds (First Amendment) Act 2002; and
- Instruments of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
Page 3Section II:  Revised Legislative Action Plan
(Present Status of and Agenda for Nepal 's Law-Making Process for WTO Conformity)
No.Laws/Regulations/
Administrative DecisionsWTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date
1. Instrument of Ratification of
WTO AgreementMarrakech Agreement
Establishing WTO 1994Council of Ministers will consider submitting to the Parliament
for ratification/accession of/to the WTO Agreement as soon asWTO approves membership to Nepal
2. Income Tax Act 2002 General Approved by the Parliament, April 2002 In force
3. Bankruptcy/Insolvency Act General Preparation of draft of the new Act by Ministry of Finance by
December 2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by July 2005September 2005
4. Foreign Exchange
(Regulating) Act 2002(Amendment)General Approved by the Parliament, April 2002 In force
5. Competition Act General Preparation of draft of the new Act by Ministry of Industry,
Commerce and Supplies by November 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by February 2004July 2004
6. Export Import (Control) Act
1957 (Amendment)General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade 1994
Agreement on Agriculture
Agreement on Import
Licensing Procedures.Initial draft being prepared by Department of Commerce by
August 2003
Submission by Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies to
Council of Ministers by September 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by October 2003December 2003
7. Export Import (Control)
Regulations 1978(Amendment)General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade 1994
Agreement on Agriculture
Agreement on Import
Licensing Procedures.Initial draft prepared by Department of Commerce in December
2002
Submission by Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies to
Council of Ministers by October 2003
Adoption by Council of Ministers by December 2003December 2003WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
Page 4No.Laws/Regulations/
Administrative DecisionsWTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date
8. Customs Act, 1962
(Amendment)Agreement on
Implementation of ArticleVII of GATT 1994 (CustomsValuation)
Agreement on Rules of
Origin.Initial draft prepared by Department of Customs in December
2002
Submission by Ministry of Finance to the Council of Ministers
by June 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by September 2003December 2003
9. Customs Regulation, 1969
(Amendment)Agreement on
Implementation of ArticleVII of GATT 1994 (Customs
Valuation)
Agreement on Rules of
Origin.Initial draft prepared by Department of Commerce in December
2002
Adoption by Ministry of Finance and submission to Council of
Ministers by August 2003
Adoption by Council of Ministers by December 2003December 2003
10. Instruments of Ratification
For United Nations
Convention on Contracts for
the International Sale ofGoods (Vienna, 1980)General Endorsement by Council of Ministers by March 2004 December 2005
11. Law on Anti-dumping
MeasuresAgreement of
Implementation of Article VIof the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping)Preparation of draft legislation by December 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by March 2004July 2004
12. Nepal Standards
(Certification Mark) Act,
1980 (Amendment)Agreement on Technical
Barriers to TradePreparation of draft amendment by June 2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by January 2005April 2005
13. Nepal Standards
(Certification Mark)Regulations, 1982(Amendment)Agreement on Technical
Barriers to TradePreparation of draft amendment by September 2005
Adoption by Council of Ministers by December 2005December 2005
14. Decision on the
establishment of InquiryPointsAgreement on Technical
Barriers to TradeSubmission of proposal by WTO Division, Ministry of Industry,
Commerce and Supplies by April 2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by
June 2003June 2003
15. Plant Protection Act 1972
(Amendment)Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary andPhyto-Sanitary MeasuresPreparation of draft amendment by June 2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by January 2005April 2005WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
Page 5No.Laws/Regulations/
Administrative DecisionsWTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date
16. Plant Protection Regulation
1975 (Amendment)Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary andPhyto-Sanitary MeasuresPreparation of draft amendment by September 2005
Adoption by Council of Ministers by December 2005December 2005
17. Instrument of International
Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC)Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and
Phyto-Sanitary MeasuresEndorsed by Council of Ministers in August 2002 December 2005
18. Seed Act 1998 (First
Amendment)Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and
Phyto-Sanitary MeasuresEndorsed by Council of Ministers in August 2002 August 2004
19. Decision on the
establishment of InquiryPointsAgreement on Sanitary and
Phyto-Sanitary Measures
General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade 1994Submission of proposal by WTO Division, Ministry of Industry,
Commerce and Supplies by April 2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by
June 2003June 2003
20. Environment Act, 1997
(Amendment)General Preparation of draft amendment by Ministry of Population and
Environment by December 2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by July 2005September 2005
21. Industrial Property
(Protection) ActAgreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of IntellectualPropertyPreparation of new draft legislation by the Department of
Industry by December 2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by
December  2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by July 2005December 2005
22. Copyright Act 2002
(Amendment)Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of IntellectualProperty RightsApproved by the Parliament in August 2002 In force
23. Instrument of Ratification of
Bern Convention for theProtection of Literary and
Artistic Works 1971Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of IntellectualProperty  RightsEndorsement  by Council of Ministers by December 2003 December 2005
24. Plant Resources Act Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of IntellectualProperty RightsEndorsed by Council of Ministers in 2002 December 2003
25. Access to Genetic
Resources ActAgreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of IntellectualProperty RightsPreparation of draft of the new legislation by Ministry of
Forestry and Soil Conservation by June 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003April 2004WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
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Administrative DecisionsWTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date
26. Pharmaceutical Act, 1978
(Amendment)General Preparation of draft amendment by Ministry of Health by
December 2004Endorsement  by Council of Minister by April 2005September 2005
27. Cyber Act General Preparation of draft amendment by Ministry of Science and
Technology by December 2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by April 2005September 2005
28. Foreign Investment and
Technology Transfer Act,
1992. (Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)
Agreement on Trade Related
Investment Measures.Preparation of draft bill by Department of Industry by August
2003
Submission by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to
Council of Ministers by October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004
29. Foreign Investment and
Technology Transfer
RegulationsGeneral Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)
Agreement on Trade Related
Investment Measures.Preparation of draft regulation by Department of Industry by
March 2004
Submission by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to
Council of Ministers by April 2004
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by May 2004May 2004
30. Industrial Enterprises Act,
1992 (Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS);
Agreement on Trade RelatedInvestment Measures; andAgreement on Subsidies.Preparation of draft bill by Department of Industry by June
2003
Submission by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to
Council of Ministers by October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers December 2003February 2004
31. Industrial Enterprises
RegulationsGeneral Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)
Agreement on Trade Related
Investment Measures
Agreement on Subsidies.Preparation of draft regulations by Department of Industry by
March 2004
Submission by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to
Council of Ministers by April 2004
Adoption by Council of Ministers by May 2004May 2004WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
Page 7No.Laws/Regulations/
Administrative DecisionsWTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date
32. Industrial Policy, 1992
(Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)
Agreement on Trade Related
Investment Measures
Agreement on Subsidies.Preparation of draft policy by Department of Industry by August
2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry Commerce and Supplies by
September 2003September 2003
33. Foreign Investment and One
Window Policy, 1992(Amendments)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)
Agreement on Trade Related
Investment Measures.Preparation of draft Policy by Department of Industry by
August 2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by
September 2003September 2003
34. Labour Act, 1991
(Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Preparation of draft amendment by Department of Labour by
August 2003
Submission by Ministry of Labour by October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004
35. Company Act, 1997
(Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Preparation of draft amendment by the Office of Company
Registrar by August 2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by
October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004
36. Nepal Bar Council Act,
1992 (Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Preparation of draft amendment by Ministry of Law and Justice
by October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004
37. Nepal Chartered
Accountants (FirstAmendment) Act, 2002General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Approved by the Parliament in July 2002 In force
38. Insurance Act, 1992
(Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Preparation of draft amendment by Ministry of Finance by
October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004
39. Securities Exchange Act,
1982 (Amendment)General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Preparation of draft bill by Ministry of Finance by October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
Page 8No.Laws/Regulations/
Administrative DecisionsWTO Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date
40. Bank and Finance
Institution ActGeneral Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Draft already submitted by Central Bank of Nepal to the
Ministry of Finance
Adoption by Ministry of Finance by October 2003
Endorsement by Council of Ministers by December 2003February 2004
41. Health Institutions
Operating ActGeneral Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Endorsed by the Council of Ministers in August 2002 September 2003
42. Decision on the
establishment of InquiryPointsGeneral Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS)Submission of proposal by WTO Division, Ministry of Industry
Commerce and Supplies by April 2003
Adoption by Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies by
June 2003June 2003WT/ACC/NPL/10/Rev.1
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Section III:  Calendar Plan
2003 – Expected approval date:
- Decision on the Establishment of Inquiry Point on TBT, June;
- Decision on the Establishment of Inquiry Point on SPS, June;
- Decision on the Establishment of Inquiry Point on Services, June;
- Industrial Policy, 1992 (Amendment), September;
- Foreign Investment and One Window Policy, 1992 (Amendment), September;
- Health Institutions Operating Act, September;
- Export Import (Control) Act, 1957 (Amendment), December;
- Export Import  (Control) Regulations, 1978 (Amendment), December;
- Customs Act, 1962 (Amendment), December;
- Customs Regulations, 1969 (Amendment), December; and
- Plant Resources Act, December.
 2004 – Expected approval date:
- Industrial Enterprises Act, 1992 (Amendment), February;
- Labour Act, 1991 (Amendment), February;
- Company Act, 1997 (Amendment), February;
- Nepal Bar Council Act, 1992 (Amendment), February;
- Insurance Act, 1992 (Amendment), February;
- Securities Exchange Act, 1982 (Amendment), February;
- Bank and Finance Institution Act, February;
- Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act, February;
- Access to Genetic Resources Act, April;
- Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Regulations, May;
- Industrial Enterprises Regulations, May;
- Law on Anti-Dumping Practices, July;
- Competition Act, July; and
- Seed Act, 1998 (First Amendment), August.
2005 – Expected approval date:
- Plant Protection Act, April;
- Nepal Standards (Certification Mark) Act, 1980, April;
- Bankruptcy/Insolvency Act, September;
- Environment Act, September;
- Pharmaceutical Act, 1978 (Amendment), September;
- Cyber Act, September;
- Nepal Standards (Certification Mark) Regulations, 1982, December;
- Plant Protection Regulation, 1975 (Amendment), December;
- Industrial Property (Protection) Act, December;
- Instrument of Ratification of Bern Convention, December;
- Instrument of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), December; and
- Instrument of Ratification for the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of
Good, December.
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