WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.8 
25 July 2012 
 (12-4092) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Lao PDR Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE LAO PDR 
 
Legislative Action Plan 
 
Revision 
 
  The following submission, dated 25 July 2012, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). 
 
 
_______________ WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.8 
Page 2  
 
  Introduction 
 This document is divided into  two sections.  The first section provides an overview of 
trade-related legislation of Lao PDR.  The sec ond section provides the Legislative Action Plan of 
Lao PDR to ensure compliance with WTO requirements. 
Section I:  Overview of Trade-related Legislation of Lao PDR 
 The following are laws, edicts, decrees and lower regulations that relate to international trade: 
I. Laws and Edicts: 
Title Date of Adoption 
Constitution of the Lao PDR No.25/NA 6 May 2003 
Edict No. 02/OPR "On Legal Act Drafting" 20 October 2003 
Law No. 04/NA "On Food" 15 May 2004 
Law No. 01/NA "On Criminal Procedures" 15 May 2004 
Law No. 12/NA "On Criminal" 9 November 2005 
Law No. 07/NA "On the Handling of Petitions" 9 November 2005 
Law No. 11/NA "On Enterprise" 9 November 2005 
Law No. 07/NA "On Court Fees" 27 December 2006 
Law No. 06/NA "On Forestry" 24 December 2007 
Law No. 13/NA "On Standardization" 26 December 2007 
Edict No. 01/P "On Governing the Management of Foreign Exchange and 
Precious Metals" 17 March 2008 
Law No. 04/NA "On Judgement Enforcement" 8 July 2008 
Law No. 03/NA "On Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters" 25 July 2008 
Law No. 01/NA "On Contract and Tort" 8 December 2008 
Law No. 02/NA "On Investment Promotion" 8 July 2009 
Law No. 03/NA "On Fisheries" 9 July 2009 
Law No. 06/NA "On the Resolution of Economic Disputes" 17 December 2010 
Law No. 05/NA "Taxation" 20 December 2011 
Law No.04/NA "On Customs" 20 December 2011 
Law No. 01/NA "On Intellectua l Property" 20 December 2011 
Law No. 06/NA "On Insurance" 21 December 2011 
Law No. 09/NA "On Telecomm unications" 21 December 2011 
Law No. 10/NA "On Lawyers" 21 December 2011 
Edict No.002/OPR "On Export Duties" 27 April 2012 
  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.8 
 Page 3 
 
 
  II. Decrees: 
Title Date of Adoption 
Decree No. 206/PM "On Goods Trading Business" 11 October 2001 
Decree No. 25/PM "On Dansavanh Village Border Trade Zone" 25 March 2002 
Decree No. 148/PM "On Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone" 29 September 2003 
Decree No. 362/PM "On the Implementation of the Customs Law" 19 October 2007 
Decree No. 180/PM "On Import Licensing Procedures" 7 July 2009 
Decree No. 275/PM "On the Implementation of the Law on Commercial Bank" 25 September 2009 
Decree No. 228/PM "On the Origin of Import and Export Goods" 22 April 2010 
Decree No. 474/PM "On the Administration of Prices of Goods and Services" 18 November 2010 
Decree No. 363/PM "On the Notification and Enquiry of Trade Related Information" 19 August 2010 
Decree No. 443/PM "On Special Economic Zo ne and Specific Economic Zone in the 
Lao PDR" 26 October 2010 
Decree No.114/GoL"On Import and Export of Goods" 6 April 2011 
Decree No. 119/PM "On the Implementation of the Investment Promotion Law" 20 April 2011 
Decree No. 154/PM "On the Cancellation of Local Content Requirements set out in 
Previous Legislations" 5 March 2012 
 
 
III. Other Regulations: 
Title Date of Adoption 
Regulations No. 1150/PM "On the Establishment and Management of Tourist Service 
Operators" 25 October 1993 
Regulations No. 1413/49/MCTPC "On the Establishment of Businesses of 
Transportation Shipping and Repair Services by the State; State Private Collectives and 
Private Individuals" 22 June 1996 
Regulations No. 159/OPM "On the Management of Hotels and Guesthouses" 30 July 1997 
Regulation No. 586/MOH "On the Control on Production, Exported-Imported Safe 
Food" 12 May 2006 
Regulation No. 518/MOH "On the Basic Principles in the Application of Sanitary and 
Technical Measures for the Food Safety Management" 18 March 2009 
Regulation No. 519/MoH "On Labelling of Prepackaged Food" 18 March 2009 
Instruction No. 01/BOL "On Implementation of Decree Law on Management of 
Foreign Currency and Precious Metals" 2 April 2010 
Decision No. 2860/MAF "On Control of Pesticides in Lao PDR" 11 June 2010 
Instruction No. 1398/PM "On Customs Valuation" 16 June 2010 
Instruction No. 1970/MoF "On Customs Measures for the Protection of Intellectual 
Property Rights" 8 September 2011 
Instruction No. 2401/CD "On Customs Valuation of Imported Goods" 29 September 2010 
Decision No. 0349/MOIC.FTPD "On GATS Enquiry Point" 22 February 2011 
Decision No. 0471/MOIC "On Notification Un it of Sanitary-Phytosanitary Measures 
and Technical Barriers to Trade" 9 March 2011 
Decision No. 0870/MAF "On Animal Slaughtering and Animal Product Inspection" 18 March 2011 
Decision, No. 605/MoH"On Adopting Codex Alimenta rius Standards as Priorities" 27 April 2011 
Decision No. 1199/NAST-PMO "On the Or ganization and Operation of Technical 
Barriers to Trade Enquiry Point" 22 June 2011 
Decision No. 1502/MAF "On the Organization and Operation of SPS Enquiry Point" 23 June 2011 
Decision No. 2095/MOF "On the Use of Customs Declaration Form for Imported 
Goods subjected to Duties and Taxes" 26 September 2011 
Instruction No. 00266/CD "On the Completion of Customs Declaration Form" 4 November 2011 
Ministerial Decision No. 0039/MoAF "On the Basic Principles for the Application of 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in Plant and Animal Product Administration" 11 January 2012 
Notification No. 0076/MOIC.DIMEX "On the List of Goods subject to Automatic and 
Non-automatic Import and Export Licensing" 13 January 2012 
Decision No. 0075/MOIC.DIMEX "On the Procedures for Car Import and Distribution 13 January 2012 WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.8 
Page 4  
 
  Title Date of Adoption 
in the Lao PDR" 
Decision No. 0238/MOIC.DIMEX "On Procedure for Import and Distribution of Gas 
in the Lao PDR" 2 February 2012 
Decision No. 0237/MOIC.DIMEX "On Procedure for Import and Distribution of 
Petroleum in the Lao PDR" 2 February 2012 
Decision No. 297/MOH "On Food Inspection" 24 February 2012 
Decision No. 0450/MOIC.DIMEX "On the Pr ocedures for Steel and Cement Import 
and Distribution" 1 March 2012 
 
Decision No. 0451/MOIC.DIMEX "On the Procedure for Timber Import" 1 March 2012 
 
Decision No. 0452/MOIC.DIMEX "On Procedures for Rice Import and Export in the Lao PDR" 1 March 2012 
 
Decision No. 0352/MEM "On Import and Export Licensing Procedures of Minerals 
and Mineral Products" 13 March 2012 
Instruction No. 109/MOD "On Procedures for the Importation of Industrial Explosive 
Substances" 29 May 2012 
Notification No. 799/MOS "On the Importation of Guns and Bullets for Sportive 
Purposes" 13 June 2012 
Decision No. 518/MICT "On Procedures for Import and Distribution of Publications" 16 June 2012 
Instruction No. 1537/MoF "On the Customs Valuation for Imported Goods" 4 June 2012 
Decision No. 609/BOL "On Procedures for the Importation of Gold Bars" 26 June 2012 
Instruction No. 11589/CD "On Additional Explanation of Customs Valuation for 
Imported Goods" 24 July 2012 
  
   WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.8
 Page 5Section II:  Legislative Action Plan for WTO Compliance  
Current Status of Main Legislation Enactment for WTO Compliance  
No. Legislation Relevant  
WTO 
Agreement Status  
Expected Approval 
Date 
 Date of 
Implementation 
1. Amendment of Edict on Fees 
and Service Charges GATT Approved by the Government in April 2012. 
To be approved by Standing Committee of the National 
Assembly and then promulgated by the President of Lao PDR. August 2012 by the 
National Assembly. 
November 2012 by the President. November 2012 
2. Regulation "On Copyright and 
Related Rights" TRIPS Draft prepared and completed by Department of 
Intellectual Property in May 2012. 
To hold consultations with relevant Departments, experts and other stake holders in August 2012. September 2012 by the 
Ministry of Science and 
Technology October 2012 
3. Regulation "On Trademarks 
and Trade Names" TRIPS Draft prepared and completed by Department of 
Intellectual Property in May 2012. 
To hold consultations with relevant Departments, experts and other stake holders in August 2012. September 2012 by the 
Ministry of Science and 
Technology October 2012 
4. Regulation "On Geographical 
Indications" TRIPS Draft prepared and completed by Department of 
Intellectual Property in May 2012. 
To hold consultations with relevant Departments, experts 
and other stake holders in August 2012. September 2012 by the 
Ministry of Science and 
Technology October 2012 
5. Regulation "On Industrial 
Designs" TRIPS Draft prepared and completed by Department of 
Intellectual Property in May 2012. To hold consultations with relevant Departments, experts 
and other stake holders in August 2012. September 2012 by the 
Ministry of Science and Technology October 2012 
6. Regulation "On Patents and 
Petty Patents" TRIPS Draft prepared and completed by Department of 
Intellectual Property in May 2012. To hold consultations with relevant Departments, experts 
and other stake holders in August 2012. September 2012 by the 
Ministry of Science and Technology October 2012 
7. Regulation "On Integrated 
Circuit" TRIPS Draft prepared and completed by Department of 
Intellectual Property in May 2012. To hold consultations with relevant Departments, experts 
and other stake holders in August 2012. September 2012 by the 
Ministry of Science and Technology October 2012 
8. Law "On the Making of Legal 
Acts" Transparency Approved by the National Assembly on 12 July 2012.   Expected to be 
promulgated by the President in October 
2012. January 2013 
 
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