G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
19 December 2019 
(19-8832) Page: 1/14 
Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS  AND REGULATIONS UND ER  
ARTICLE 12.6 OF THE RELEVANT AGR EEMENT  
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC  
The following communication, dated 15 November 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Lao People's Democratic Republic  ("Lao PDR").  
_______________  
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRA TIC REPUBLIC  
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity  
Presid ent No. 287/P  
 Vientiane Capital, 07 December 2017  
DECREE  
of the 
PRESIDENT  
of the  
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC  
on the Promulgation of the Law on Safeguards  
− Pursuant to Chapter 6, Article 67, Clause 1 of the Constitution of the Lao People's 
Democratic Republic (Amended), 2015;  
− Pursuant to Resolution No. 059 /NA, dated 30 October 201 7, of the National Assembly 
Session on the adoption of the Law on Safeguards; [and]  
− Pursuant to Proposal No. 023 /NASC, dated 24 November 201 7, of the Nation al 
Assembly Standing Committee.  
The President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic  Decrees That:  
Article 1. The Law on Safeguards is hereby promulgated.  
Article 2. This Decree shall enter into force from the date of its signature.  
President of the Lao PDR 
[seal and signature ] 
Bounnhang VORACH ITH G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRA TIC REPUBLIC  
Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity  
President  No. 059/NA  
 Vientiane Capital, 30 October  2017 
RESOLUTION  
of the 
National Assembly Session  
on the Adoption of the Law on Safeguards  
Pursuant to Article 53, Clause 1 of the Constitution of the Lao People's Democratic Republic 
(Amended), 2015 and Article 11, Clause 1 of the Law on National Assembly (Amended), 2015.  
After the 4th ordinary session of the VIII National Assembly's 8th Legislature, a wide range 
of studies was undertaken and an agreement was reached on the content of the Law on Safeguards 
in a resolution at the afternoon session of 30 October 2017.  
The Nat ional As sembly Session Agrees That:  
Article 1. The Law on Safeguard s is adopted by majority vote.  
Article 2. This Resolution shall enter into force from the date of its signature.  
President of the National Assembly  
[seal and signature]  
Pany Y ATHOTOU  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC  
PEACE INDEPENDENCE DEMOCRACY UNITY PROSPERITY  
 
President  No. 27/ NA 
 Vientiane Capital, 30 October 2017 
LAW ON SAFEGUARDS  
PART I  
GENERAL PRO VISIONS  
Articl e 1 Objectives  
This L aw determines principles, regulations, and measures on the management, monitoring, and 
inspection of safeguard activities in order to enable the efficient and effective operation of such 
activities, which aim at strengthening domestic industry, e nhancing its growth, and increasing its 
competitiveness with imports, thereby contributing to the national socio -economic development.  
Article 2 Safeguards  
Safeguards are the application of tariff measures or quantitative restrictions for a certain period of 
time in order to protect a domestic industry that is affected by either a serious injury or a threat of 
serious injury due to a surge in imports.  
Article 3 De finitions  
The terms as used in this Law shall have the following meanings:  
1. A domestic industry refers to all producers of industrial and agricultural products or other types 
of product in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) producing li ke or directly competitive 
products, or those whose collective output constitutes a major proportion of the total domestic 
production of those products.  
2. Like products refer to products tha t are identical or similar characteristics to the products that a re 
manufactured in the Lao PDR, especially in terms of functions, usages, quality, technical 
components, and sorted in the same product category.  
3. Directly competitive products refer to importe d industrial o r agricultural products that can be 
substituted  for domestic products.  
4. Increased imports refer to an import of any products in such increased quantity in either 
absolute or relative terms compared with amount of like or directly competitive products 
manufactured in Lao PDR.  
5. Interested parties refer to producers, exporters, or importers and the governments of exporting 
countries of the increased import product that has caused injury to a domestic industry that produces 
like or directly competitive products, or refers to groups, associations, or org anizations that 
represent and protect the interests of a domestic industry.  
6. Increase in the importation of any products in either absolute or relative terms r efers to 
an increase in either perce ntage  or amount of imports compared with domestic production.  
7. Serious injury refers to a significant overall impairment to a domestic industry.  
8. A threat of serious in jury refers to a serious injury that is clearly imminent to a domestic 
industry.  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  Article 4 State Policy on Safeguard Activities  
The state encourages and promotes safeguard activities by developing policies and measures to 
create a favorable environment and conditions for a domestic industry in order to improve 
competitiveness with imports.  
The state provides budget, personnel, vehicles and equipment to increase the efficiency and 
effectiveness of responsible agencies in the implementation of safeguard activities.  
Article 5 Principles on Safeguards  
Safeguards shall be applied according to the  following main principles:  
1. Compliance with policies and laws;  
2. Transparency, objectivity, and fairness;  
3. The use of measures, when deemed necessary, for a certain period of time and without 
discriminatory treatment; [and] ; 
4. Compliance with treaties and inter national agreements to which the Lao PDR is a party  
Article 6 Scope of Ap plication 
This Law is applicable to domestic and foreign individuals, legal entities, and organizations that 
produce domestic products, and to importers.  
Article 7 Internatio nal C oope ration  
The state promotes fore ign, regional, and international cooperation with respe ct to safeguards by 
exchanging information, technical experiences, technologies, training and technical capacity building 
programs in order to ensure the effective implem entation of safeguards; [and] its compliance with 
international agreements and treaties to which Lao PDR is a party.  
PART I I  
DETE RMINATION AND INVESTIGATION OF  INJURY  
CHAPTER 1  
DETERMINATION OF INJURY TO A DO MESTIC INDUSTRY  
Article 8 Injury t o a Dom estic Industry  
Injury to a domestic industry is a loss of overall commercial benefits from a significant increase in 
imports, and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause a serious injury, to a domestic 
industry.  
Article 9 Determination of Se rious Injury  
In a determination of serious injury to a domestic industry, the following fac tors shall be considered:  
1. Rate and amount of the increased imports of the products concerned in absolute and relative 
terms;  
2. Decrease in the market share of the dome stic industry;  
3. Change in the level of sales;  
4. Change in the level of production;  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  5. Change in the level of productivity;  
6. Change in the level of capacity utilization;  
7. Change in the level of profits or losses;  
8. Change in the level of employment; and  
9. Other relevan t factors.  
An injury caused by factors other than the increased imports may not be deemed a serious injury.  
The detailed contents of the eight factors and the degree of serious injury are defined in specific 
regulations.  
Article 10 Dete rmination of T hreat of S erious Injury  
A determination of threat of serious injury to a domestic industry shall be based on the factors as 
defined in Article 9 of this Law.  
CHAPTER 2  
INVES TIGATION OF INJURY FRO M IMPORTS  
Article 11 Investigation of Injury from Import s 
An investigation of injury from imports is the determination of whether a domestic industry has 
suffered serious injury or threat thereof caused by the significant increase in imports.  
The investigation of injury from imports may be conducted when any of the causes defined in 
Article  12 of this Law are present.  
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with ministries and relevant sectors, shall 
conduct the investigation of injury from imports before proposing to the Government to consider the 
application of safeguards measures as defined in Article 24 of this Law.  
Article 12 Causes of Inves tigation The causes of invest igation on injury from imports are as 
follows: A petition by or on behalf of a domestic industry; A discovery of information or evidence of 
injury to a domestic industry by the investigating authorities.  
Article 13 A Petition from a Domestic Industry or Its Representative  
A domestic industry or its representative may file a petition to the Ministry of Industry and 
Commerce, in prescribed form, to conduct an investigation as defined in Article 9 of this Law.  
The petition shall contain the following information : 
Information of the concerned imported product; 2. Information of the producers, exporters, and 
importers; 3. A causal link between the increased imports and a serious injury or a threat thereof; 
and 4. An adjustment plan of a domestic industry.  
After receiving the petition, the investigating authorities shall complete their consideration of the 
information and ev idence within fifteen working days from the date of receiving the petition. If the 
consideration is not completed within the determined time period, the investigating authorities shall 
propose to the Minister of Industry and Commerce to consider an extensi on of not more than ten 
working days.  
In case where the investigating authorities find no evidence to indicate that there is an increase in 
imports which may cause any injury to a domestic industry, they shall report to the Minister of 
Industry and Commerc e and notify the petitioner regarding the analysis results.  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  In case where the investigating authorities find evidence to indicate that there is an increase in 
imports which has caused injury to a domestic industry, they shall report to the Minister of Indu stry 
and Commerce for consideration of issuing a Decision on Invest igation.  
Article 14 Discovery of Inf ormatio n and Evidence by Investigating Aut horities 
When the investigating authorities discover information or evidence indicating that the increased 
imports have caused serious injury or a threat thereof, they shall report to the Minister of Industry 
and Commerce for consideration of issuing a Decision on Investigation.  
Article 15 Investigative Procedures  
An investigation shall be conducted in accordance w ith the following procedures : 1. Issuance of a 
Decision on Investigation; 2 . Actual investigation; 3. Summary report on the investigation results.  
Article 16 Issuance of Decision on Investigation  
After receiving the summary report from the investigating authorities, the Minister of Industry a nd 
Commerce shall consider issuing a Decision on Invest igation, including the appointment of an 
invest igating committee regarding an injury from imports.  
The investigating committee shall consist of the investigating authorities, government officials of the 
industry and commerce sector, and other relevant sectoral representatives.  
Article 17 Actual Investigation  
After the Minister of Industry and Commerce has issued the Decision on Inv estigation , the 
investigating authorities shall carryout the investigation according to the following procedures:  
1. Notify the exporting country, the applicant, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and 
interested parties before carrying out the actual investigation;  
2. Disseminate t he Decision on Investigation on any media to inform the public;  
3. Consult with the interested parties in order for them to show evidence, documents, and their 
views on the application of safeguard measures to ensure the public interests;  
4. Collect data at rele vant locations to certify the accuracy and truth of injury from an increase 
of imports.  
The investigation shall be completed within one hundred and eighty days from the date of issuance 
of the decision. If the investigation is not completed within the dete rmined time, the inv estigatin g 
authorities can propose to the Minister of Industry and Commerce for considering an extension of 
not more than sixty days.  
Article 18 Summar y Report on Investigation Results  
After completing an investigation, the investigating committee shall summarize and report the 
results of the investigation, including evidence gathered, to the Minister of Industry and Commerce, 
who shall propose to the Government to consider whether or not to apply safeguard measures.  
Article 19 Termination o f Investigation  
The Minister of Industry a nd Commerce shall issue a Decision on Termination of an investigation in 
the following cases: 1. The applicant withdraws its application; 2. There is no causal link between 
the increased imports and  a serious injury or threat of serious injury; 3. Other reasons.  
Following the issuance  of the Decision on Termination of an invest igation, the Ministry of Industry 
and Commerce shall notify the WTO and interested parties as well as disseminate the Decisio n to 
the public.  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  Article 20 Treatment of Confide ntial Information  
The investigating authorities a nd committee shall keep confidential information or treat information 
provided by interested parties as confidential, and shall not disclose such information to the public 
without the permission of the provider.  
The investigating authorities and committee may request the provider to provide non -confidential 
summaries that can be disclosed to the public. If the provider indicates that the information  cannot 
be summarized, the reasons shall be provided.  
If the investigating authorities and committee find t hat a request for confidential treatment is 
unreasonable and if the provider is unwilling to disclose the information or provide a summary of it 
to the public without sufficient reason, t he investigating authorities may disregard t he information 
as a ba sis for consideration, unless there is proof obtained from another appropriate source that 
such information is accurate.  
Article 21 Cost of Investigatio n 
The cost of investigation shall be derived from the Government's budget a s defined in the laws.  
Article 22 Investigat ing Authorities  
The invest igating authorities are civil servants appointed by the Minister of Industry and Commerce 
to carry out the inve stigation regarding injury from imports as defined under this Law.  
Article 23 Rights an d Duties of In vestigating Authorities  
The investigating authorities have the following rights and duties:  
1. Collect and analyze data regarding injury from the increased im ports;  
2. Investigate or request information from the petitioner, the import er, and the domestic 
industry regarding injury from the increased imports;  
3. Summarize and report on injury from the increased imports to the Minister of Industry and 
Commerce for consi deration;  
4. Research a nd propose determination or extension of the duration o f safeguard measures; 
[and]  
5. Perform rights and other duties as defined under this Law . 
PART III 
SAFEGUARD MEASURES  
CHAPTE R 1 
TYPES OF SAFEGUARD M EASURES  
Article 24 Types of Safeguard Measures  
Safeguard measures consist of the two following types:  
1. Provisional safeguard measures;  
2. General safeguard measures.  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  Article 25 Provis ional Safeguard Measures  
Provisional safeguard measures apply to the importer, during the course of investigation, in a form 
of credit guarantee in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's regulations.  
Article 26  General Safeguard Measures  
General safeguard measures apply to the importer, after the completion of inve stigat ion, where 
there is serious inj ury to like products, as defined in Article 9 o f this Law, by determining import 
quotas or tariff increases.  
CHAPTER 2  
APPLICATION OF PROV ISIONAL SAFEGUARD  MEASURES  
Article 27 App lication of Provisional Safeguard Measures  
During the course of invest igation, if there is clear evidence that the increased imports have caused, 
or threatened to cause serious injury to a domestic industry, or if any delay would cause damage 
which would be difficult to repair, then the investigating committee shall report im mediately to the 
Minister of Industry and Commerce in order to propose to the Government to consider application 
of provisional safeguard measures.  
After issuing a decision to apply provisional safeguard measures, the Ministry of Finance and 
interested par ties shall implement such measures.  
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall notify the WTO and interested parties of the application 
of provisional safeguard measures.  
Article 28 Dur ation of Pro visional Safeguard Measures  
The duration of provisional sa feguard measures shall not exceed two hundred days from the date 
issuing the decision to apply such measures and shall b e terminated when the investigation is 
concluded or the durati on for the application of such measures has expired.  
Article 29 Terminatio n of Provisional Safeguard Measures  
The Government shall consider termination of the application of provisional safeguard measures 
before their due date as defined in Article 28 of this Law if the investigation demonstrates that the 
increased imports have not caused serious injury or threat thereof.  
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall notify the interested parties of the termination of the 
application of provisional safeguard measures, and the Ministry of Finance shall return the credit 
guarantee to  the importer immediately.  
CHAPTER 3  
APPLICATION O F GENERAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES  
Article 30 App licati on of Genera l Safeguard Measures  
After completion of an investigation and there is sufficient evidence that the increased imports have 
caused serious injury or threat thereof to a domestic industry, the investigating committee shall 
report to the Minister of Industry and Commerce, who may propose to the Government to consider 
application of general safeguard measures.  
After receiving a letter from the M inistry of Industry and Commerce, the Government shall consider 
whether to apply the general safeguard measures within fifteen working days by determining import 
quotas, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall be responsible for the implementation.  The 
imposition of import quotas shall not reduce the quantity of imports below the avera ge level of G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  imports in the last three years, unless clear justification is given that there is a need to further 
reduce the import quotas in order to remedy the advers e effects.  
For the tariff increases, the Ministry of Finance shall consider the proposal of the Ministry of Industry 
and Commerce and then propose it to the Government, who shall then propose it to the Standing 
Committee of the National Assembly for consid eration.  
General safeguard measures shall be applied only when deemed necessary. Such measures, if 
applied for more than one year, shall be progressively liberalized at regular intervals during the 
period of application.  
The Ministry of Industry and Commer ce is responsible to promptly notify the WTO and interested 
parties of an application of general safeguard measures.  
Article 31 Duration of General Safegu ard Measures  
The duration of application of general safeguard measures shall not exceed four years fro m the date 
of application of provisional safeguard measures, unless there is an extension as defined in Article  33 
of this Law.  
Article 32 Review of General Safeguard Measures  
When the duration of application of general safeguard measures exceeds three yea rs, after mid -term 
of the application period has passed, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall review the 
application of such measures and propose to the Government to consider whether to maintain, 
liberalize, or terminate suc h measures.  
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is responsible to promptly notify the result of the review of 
general safeguard measures and the decision of the Government to the WTO and interested parties.  
Article 33 Exte nsion o f General Safeguard Measures  
General safe guard measures can be extended two times. The first extension shall not exceed four 
years and the second extension shall not exceed two years. Within sixty days before the period of 
application is due, a domestic industry shall make a proposal to the Minis try of Industry and 
Commerce for consideration on extending the application of such measures.  
After receiving the proposal from a domestic industry, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall 
consider within fifteen working days whether it is necessary to  continue the application of such 
measure s and shall propose its recommendation to the Government for consideration.  
In case where there is the extension of the application of general safeguard measures, the measures 
applied shall be progressively liberali zed. 
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall promptly notify the WTO and interested parties of the 
extension of the application of general safeguard measures.  
Article 34 Reapplication of General Safeguard Measures  
In cases when the application of gener al safeguard measures has expired but a domestic industry 
continues to suffer from the damage, the measures can be reapplied to the same products for a 
period of time equal to that during which such measure had been previously app lied, provided that 
the pe riod of non -application is at least two years.  
Safeguard measures with a duration of not more than one hundred and eighty days may be reapplied 
to imported products when at least one year has elapsed since the date of application. They shall 
not be applied  for such products more than two times in five -year period.  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  Article 35 So lution to the Effect of General Safeguard Measures  
In case when the period of application or extension of general safeguard measures is taken over 
three years, the Government may consult with the exporting country that may be affected by the 
application of such measures by reducing an import duty to a level that is consistent with Lao PDR's 
obligations to the WTO.  
Artic le 36 Exemption of Safeguard Measures  
The applic ation of safeguard measures shall be exempted in the following c ases: 
1. If the share of imports from developing countries, who are WTO members, does not exceed 
three percent of the total import of products being investigated, or the share of total imports 
from developing countries collectively account for not more than nine percent; [or]  
2. If the application of general safeguard measures may cause injury to the socioeconomic of 
the country, then the Ministry of Industry and Commerce shall notify the WTO and int erested 
parties regarding the non -application of such measures.  
PART IV  
PROHIBITIONS  
Artic le 37 General Prohibitions  
Individuals, legal entities or organizations are prohibited from:  
1. Providing assistance or protecting violators of the law and regulations on safeguards;  
2. Acting as an intermediary or accepting a bribe for their own interest or those of their 
associates, relatives, and organizations or any persons;  
3. Obstructing the performance of the investigating authorities and committee; [an d] 
4. Undertaking other acts that violate the laws.  
Article 38 Prohib itions f or a Domestic Industry  
Domestic industry is prohibited from:  
1. Defaming an importer of like products [or] forging, distorting, or providing false information 
to the invest igating authorities and committee;  
2. Bribing officials and relevant people involved in safeguard activities; [and]  
3. Undertaking other acts that violate the laws.  
Article 39 Prohibitions for Investigating Authorities, Committee and Relevant Officials 
The invest igating authorities, committe e and relevant officials are prohibited from:  
1. Abusing their power, duties, or positions for their own interests or those of their  associates, 
relatives, organizations, or any persons;  
2. Accepting bribes from members of a domestic industry or importers;  
3. Disclosing confidential information [and] documents without authorization;  
4. Delaying the consideration of documents without any reasona ble cause or withholding the 
documents of a domestic industry affected by imports;  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  5. Conspiring with a domestic industry in hiding evidence; [and]  
6. Undertaking other acts that violate the laws.  
PART V  
ADMINI STRATION AND INSPECT ION 
CHAPTER 1  
ADMINISTRATION OF SA FEGUARD ACTIVITIES  
Artic le 40 Safeguards Administration Authority  
The Government centrally and uniformly administers safeguard activities throughout the country by 
designating the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to take direct respons ibility and exercise 
leadership, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, other sectors, and relevant local 
administrations.  
Safeguards administration authority consists of the:  
1. Ministry of Industry and Commerce;  
2. Central and Provincial Departments of  Industry and Commerce; [ and] 
3. Central, Municipal, and District Offices of Industry and Commerce.  
Article 41 Rights and Duties of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce  
In the administration of safeguard activities, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce shal l have rights 
and duties in accordance with its responsibilities as follows:  
1. Research [and] develop policies, strategic plans, and laws in order to make proposals to the 
Government for consideration;  
2. Elaborate policies, strategic plans, laws, and regulations regarding safeguard activities into 
plans, programs, and detailed projects for implementation;  
3. Publicize and disseminate policies, strategic plans, laws, and regulations with regard to 
safeguard activities;  
4. Invest igate and propose to the Govern ment for considering the application of safeguard 
measures;  
5. Issue decisions, orders, and instruction s on applicatio n of safeguard measures to remedy 
the injury from imports;  
6. Enhance, train, and upgrade civil servants on safeguard activities;  
7. Appoint t he investigating authorities and committee regarding determination of injury for 
safeguard activities;  
8. Consult a nd coordinate with the line ministries, ministry -equivalent organizations, and other 
sectors and relevant local authorities;  
9. Carry out international cooperation and exchanges of experience regarding safeguard 
activities;  
10. Summarize and report on the implementation of safeguard activities to the Government on 
a regular basis; [and]  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  11. Perform other rights and duties as defined under the laws.  
Article 4 2 Rights and Duties of the Central [and] Provincial Departments of Industry and 
Commerce  
In the administration of safeguard activities, the Central [ and] Provincial Departments of Industry 
and Commerce shall have rights and duties in accordance with their re sponsibilities as follows:  
1. Elaborate and implement policies, strategic plans, laws, regulations, and action plans on 
safeguard activities;  
2. Publicize and disseminate policies, strategic plans, laws, and regulations on safeguard 
activities;  
3. Facilitate and cooperate with the investigating authorities and committee in implementing 
safeguard activities;  
4. Receive proposals and information regarding safeguard activities from a domestic industry 
and other relevant sectors, and report to the Ministry  of Industry and Commerce for 
consideration;  
5. Monitor and inspect implementation of the laws and regulation relating to safeguard 
activities;  
6. Summarize and report on the implementation of safeguard activities to the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce on a re gular basis; [and ] 
7. Perform other rights and duties as defined under the laws.  
Article 43 Rights and Duties of Central, Municipal, [and] District Offices of Industry and 
Commerce . 
In the administration of safeguard activities, the Central, Municipal, [ and] District Offices of Industry 
and Commerce shall have rights an d duties in accordance with their responsibilities as follows:  
1. Implement plans, decisions, orders, and instructions issued by higher authorities regarding 
safeguard activities;  
2. Disseminate laws and regulations with regard to safeguard activities;  
3. Facilitate and cooperate with the investigating authorities and committee on determination 
of injury from imports;  
4. Monitor [and] inspect the implementation of laws a nd regulations on saf eguard activities;  
5. Summarize and report on the implementation of safeguard activities to Provincial 
Departments of Industry and Commerce and district authorities on a regular basis; [and  
6. Perform other rights and duties as defined under the laws.  
Article 44 Right s and Duties of Ministry of Finance  
In the administration of safeguard activities, the Ministry of Finance shall have the following rights:  
1. Keep or return the credit guarantee from the application of provisional safeguard measures;  
2. Collect import duty from the application of provisional safeguard measures;  
3. Coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in determination of import tariff 
rates to protect a domestic industry;  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  4. Issue decisions, orders, and instructions on keeping or return ing the credit guarantee from 
the application of provisional safeguard measures and import tariff rates;  
5. Summarize and report on the implementation of safeguards activities within its scope of 
rights and responsibilities to the Government of Lao PDR on a r egular basi s; [and]  
6. Perform other rights and duties as defined under the laws.  
Article 45 Right s and Duties of Other Sectors and Relevant Local Ad ministrations  
Other sectors and relevant local administrations shall have the rights and duties to cooperate, 
provide information, and coordinate with the industry and commerce, finance , and public security 
sectors in implementing safeguard activities according to their roles and scope of responsibilities.  
CHAPTER 2  
INSPECTION OF SAFEGU ARD AC TIVITIES 
Articl e 46 Safeguards Inspection Auth ority  
The safeguards inspection authority consists of : 
1. Internal i nspection authority shall mean t he same as safeguards administration authority as 
defined in Article 40of this law; [and]  
2. External inspection authority, which includ es the National Assembly, Provincial People's 
Assemblies, Government Inspection Authority, State Audit Organization, Lao Front for 
National Development, and mass organizations and the  media, is responsible for inspecting 
the implementation of safeguard act ivities according to their roles, rights, and duties.  
Article 47 Contents of Safeguards Inspection  
Contents of safeguards inspection consists of the following:  
1. Implementation of policies, strategic plans, laws, and regulations relating to safeguards;  
2. Organization and the activities of safeguards administration authority; [and ] 
3. Responsibilities, behaviors, and working methods o f the officials, investigating authorities, 
and committee.  
Article 48 Forms of Safeguards Inspection  
The forms of sa feguards inspection are as follows:  
1. Regular inspection refers to an inspection that is carried out in accordance with laws, plans, 
and in a certain period of time;  
2. Inspection with prior notice refers to an ad hoc inspection which is carried out, as deemed 
necessary, and whether notice is give n to the inspected person at least twenty -four hours 
in advance; [and]  
3. Impromptu inspections refer to an inspection which is carried out urgently without giving 
prior notice to the inspected person in advance.  
The safeg uards inspection shall include both an inspection of documents and on -site inve stigati on 
at the premises of importers and a domestic industry in accordance with the laws.  G/SG/N/1/LAO/2  
 
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  PART VI  
POLICIES TOWARDS PER SONS WITH OUTSTANDIN G PERFORMANCE AND  
MEASURES AGA INST VIOLATORS  
Article 49 Policies Towards Persons with Outstanding Performance  
Individuals, legal entities, or organizations with remarkable accomplishments in implementing this 
Law shall receive recognitions or other incentives according to the regulations.  
Article 50 Measures against Violators  
Individuals, legal entities, or organizations who violate this Law shall be subject to education, 
warning, disciplinary action, fines, civil compensation, or criminal punishment according to the laws 
depending on the  seriousness thereof.  
PART VII  
FINAL PROVISIONS  
Article 51 Implementation  
The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic shall implement this Law . 
Article 52 Effectiveness  
This Law shall be effective from the date the President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic 
issues the prom ulgating decree and after fifteen days of its publication in the official gazette.  
Regulations [and] provisions that contradict this law are hereby repealed.  
President of the National Assembly  
[seal and signature]  
Pany YATHOTOU  
 
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