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WT/ACC/SAM/16/Rev.4 
23 September 2011 
 (11-4593) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Samoa Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF SAMOA 
 
Legislative Action Plan 
 
Revision 
  
 The following submission, dated 22 September 2011, is being circulated at the request of the 
Government of Samoa.  
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  WT/ACC/SAM/16/Rev.4 
Page 2 Part I:  Pending Activities 
 
Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status Time Period 
Samoa Customs Valuation 
Regulations 2011 To amend Samoa's Customs Valuation Regulations 
1998 to ensure conformity of Samoa's Customs 
Valuation Regime to the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation. First draft circulated to Members.  
 
Regulations to be finalized and submitted to Cabinet for approval. 
 
 Regulations to be enacted by Cabinet. On 6 May 2011 
 
30 September 2011    
 
 3 October 2011 
Liquor Bill 2011 To promote and encourage responsibility in the 
manufacture, import, sale and consumption of liquor 
through the establishment of a scheme of liquor licences, including: a tem porary licence to allow the 
licence holder to import and sell liquor on a temporary 
basis; and, the delinking of the right to import and the right to distribute.  Bill tabled in Parliament. 
 
To be passed by Parliament.  
To be enacted by Parliament. On 12 July 2011 
 
3 October 2011  
10 October 2011 
VAGST Amendment To amend Section 15 of the VAGST Act to ensure 
WTO compliance by removing any discriminatory 
effect the current wording may have on imported 
agricultural products. The 3-year transition period will be used to conduct 
an analysis of Samoa's domestic agricultural sector, 
with a view to determining the appropriate 
legislative reform, bearing in mind the 
administrative constraints within the Government Ministry that administer s VAGST, as well as the 
political sensitivities that are associated with 
amending this provision. 3 years from accession. 
Intellectual Property Bill 2011 
 
Copyright Amendment Bill 2011 To modernize Samoa's Intellectual Property legislation 
and policies to address current intellectual property 
rights developments; improve domestic standards and 
protections for Samoa; and also to meet international standards and requirements including the 
WTO TRIPS Agreement incl uding conformity with 
Articles 9 to 14, 22, 25, 26, 27(1) and 29 provisions to be implemented as from accession:  Articles 16(2), 
16(3), 19, 20, 21, 27(2), 27(3), 30 to 34, 39 to 64. First draft circulated to Members. 
 
National public consultations on the Bills have been 
completed.  
Second draft circulated. 
 To review final draft of th e IP Bill and final draft of 
the Copyright Amendment Bill. 
 To be passed by Parliament. 
 
To be enacted.  
Full implementation.  On 6 May 2011 
 
In May/June 2011 
  
On 7 July 2011 
 31 August 2011   
 
 3 October 2011 
 
10 October 2011  
By July 2013  
   WT/ACC/SAM/16/Rev.4
 Page 3Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status Time Period 
Food and Drugs Amendment 
Act 2011  To amend the Food and Drugs Act 1967 to give power 
to the Minister of Health to make an order prohibiting 
the sale of certain goods so that the current import 
prohibition order can be revoked.   Final draft to be submitted to Cabinet for approval. 
 
To be passed by Parliament. 
 To be enacted. 30 September 2011 
 
3 October 2011 
 10 October 2011 
Customs Tariff Amendment 
Act 2011 To amend Section 9 of the Customs Tariff Act to 
remove the unconditional authority to impose dumping 
duties and replace it with a provision that is in accordance with Article VI of  the GATT 1994.  This is 
to ensure compliance with the WTO Anti-Dumping 
provisions. First draft circulated to Members. 
 
Final draft to be submitted to Cabinet for approval.  
 
To be passed by Parliament.  
To be enacted. On 22 July 2011 
 
30 September 2011  
 
3 October 2011  
10 October 2011 
Pesticides Regulations 2011 To amend the Pesticides Regulations 1990 in order for 
the registration fees for pesticides to be brought in line with Article VIII of the GATT 1994. Final draft approval by Cabinet. 
  
To be enacted.  30 September 2011 
  
3 October 2011 
 
Part II:  Completed Activities 
Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status Time Period 
Customs Valuation Amendments 
Regulations 2009 
 
Customs Amendment Act 2010 To bring Samoa's Customs Valuation legislation into 
conformity with Articles 10 and 12 of the 
Customs Valuation Amendments. Effective. 
 
 
Effective. 24 August 2009 
 
 
27 January 2010 
Foreign Investment Amendment Bill 2011 
 
  
 
  
 
Foreign Investment Regulations 2011 To amend the Foreign Investment Act 2000. 
 
To promote foreign investment and to regulate such 
investment by guaranteeing the rights of citizens to participate in the economy of Samoa.  This includes the 
clear definition of the Reserv ed and Restricted list and 
provide for a transparent mechanism for the review of criteria for the selection of restricted and reserved 
sectors. Effective   
 
 
  
 
  
 
Effective    11  August 2011 
 
 
  
 
  
 
22 July 2011 
 
  
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