RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3 
5 May 2009 
 
 (09-2213) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Lao PDR Original:  English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE LAO PDR 
 
Legislative Action Plan  
 
Revision  
   The following submission, dated 9 April 2009, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). 
 
 
_______________ 
 WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3 
Page 2  
 
  Introduction
 
 
This document is divided into two sections.  The first section provides an overview of recent progress 
in adoption of legislation in Lao PDR to bring th e country's legislative framework into conformity 
with WTO provisions.  The second section outlines an agenda for enacting and implementing laws 
and/or adopting regulations/decrees for WTO conformity in Lao PDR. 
 
Section I:  Progress in Adoption of Legislation  
 
The following are either new or amended laws that  have some relevance to international trade and 
have recently been approved by the Lao PDR National Assembly: 
 - Agriculture Law (1998); - Decree Law on Foreign Exchange  and Precious Metals (2002); 
- Law on the People's Courts (2003); 
- Law on the Office of the Public Prosecutor (2003); 
- Law on Civil Procedure (2004); - Law on Judgement Enforcement (2004); - Law on the Promotion of Domestic Investment (2004); - Law on the Promotion of Foreign Investment (2004); - Food Law (2004); 
- Law on Handling Petitions (2005); 
- Customs Law (2005); - Tax Law (2005); - Enterprise Law (2005); - Law on Resolution of Economic Disputes (2005); 
- Value Added Tax Law (2006); 
- Law on Forestry (2007); - Law on Intellectual Property (2007); - Law on Standardization (2007); - Law on Livestock Production a nd Veterinary (2008); and 
- Law on Plant Protection (2008). 
 
The following Decrees, Regulations and Notifications relevant to international trade have also been 
released:  - Prime Minister's Decree on Plant Quarantine (1993); 
- Ministerial Regulation on Plant Quarantine (1993); 
- Decree on Trademarks (1995); - Ministerial Regulation on Management and Use of Planting Material and Seed (1997); 
- Ministerial Regulation on Manage ment and Use of Fertilizer (2000); 
- Ministerial Regulation on Manage ment and Use of Pesticide (2000); 
- Decree on Goods Trading Business (2001); 
- Prime Minister's Decree on Admini stration of Export and Import (2001); 
- Decree on the Protection of Patents, Petty  Patents and Industrial Designs (2002); 
- Regulation on the Registration of Tr ademarks (2002), latest amendments; 
- Prime Ministerial Notification on Export of Forestry Products (2002); - Decree on Border Trade Zone at Bane Dansavanh (2002); 
- Decree on Border Trade Zone at Bo ten, Luangnamtha Province (2002); 
- Presidential Decree on Fees and Services Charges (2002) and amendments (2008); - Presidential Ordinance on Legal Act Drafting (2003); - Decree of the Prime Minister on Special Economic Zone at Sava n-Seno, Savannakhet 
Province (2003);  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3 
 Page 3 
 
 
  - Regulation on the Implementation of the Patents Decree (2003); 
- Instruction on Implementation of Decree Law on Management of Foreign Currency and 
Precious Metals (2003); 
- Ministerial Instruction on the Implementation of the Presidential Decree of the Lao PDR on 
the Registration and Other Services Fees (2003); 
- Decree on Trade Competition (2004); 
- Ministerial Guidelines on Lao PDR Organic Standard (2005); - Prime Minister's Instruction on Streamlini ng Investment Project Approval Procedure and 
Investment Promotion (2005); 
- Decision on Determined List of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor 
Chemicals (2005); 
- Prime Minister's Decree on Implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Domestic 
Investment (2005); 
- Prime Minister's Decree on Implementati on of the Law on the Promotion of Foreign 
Investment (2005); 
- Prime Minister's Order on the Implementation of Enterprise Law (2006); 
- Ministerial Instruction on Implem entation of Enterprise Law (2006); 
- Notification on the List of Controlled Goods for Import and Export (2006); - Regulation on Bottled Drinking Water (2006); - Regulation on the Control on Production,  Exported-Imported Safe Food (2006); 
- Notification on the Enhancement of Border Check Point (2007); 
- Ministerial Order on Import Export Facilitating Procedure (2007); 
- Decree on Implementing the Customs Law (2007); - National Policy on Food Safety (2009); - Ministerial Regulation on the Basic Principles in  the Application of Sanitary and Technical 
Measures for the Food Safety Management (2009); and 
- Regulation on Labelling of Pre-Package Food (2009). 
  
  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3 
Page 4 Section II:  Legislative Action Plan  
 
Current Status of and Agenda for Lao PDR's Process for Ensuring Conformity of Legislation with WTO Provisions  
 
No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
by National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
Trade in Goods 
1. Implementing Decree of 
the Customs Law1 Customs Valuation and 
Rules of Origin Preparation by the Ministry of 
Finance.  
Adopted by the Prime Minister in 
October 2007. Not applicable Technical Assistance (TA) sought for 
Customs Modernization Project supported by the World Bank to introduce ASYCUDA and 
for raising awareness, automating customs 
clearance, training customs enforcement officers and strengthening anti-smuggling 
programme. 
 Transition period is required to adhere to the 
provisions of Customs Valuation Agreement. 
2. Implementing Decree of 
the Value Added Tax 
Law GATT Article III  Preparation by the Ministry of 
Finance in 2008. 
 
To be approved by the Ministry of Finance in July 2009. 
 
To be submitted to the Government for adoption in 2010. Not applicable TA received from World Bank. 
3. Law on Investment 
Promotion Subsidies and 
Countervailing 
Measures, Trade-Related Investment 
Measures Draft prepared by the Ministry of 
Planning and Investment in 
March 2009.  
To be submitted to the Government 
for approval in July 2009.  
To be submitted to the National 
Assembly for adoption in December 2009. 2009 TA received from International Finance 
Corporation. 
                                                      
1 See Customs Valuation Action Plan (WT/ACC/LAO/12/Rev.1) for detailed activities on Customs Valuation.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3
 Page 5No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
by National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
4. Decree on Import 
Licensing Procedures Import Licensing 
Procedures  Draft prepared by the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce in 2008. 
 
To be submitted to the Government for adoption by 2009. Not applicable TA received from UNCTAD, international 
and regional experts. 
5. List of goods required 
import licensing Import Licensing 
Procedures To be adopted by the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce by 2009. Not applicable TA received from UNCTAD, international 
and regional experts. 
6. Decree on Rules of 
Origin Rules of Origin Draft prep ared by the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce in 2009.  
To be submitted to the Government 
for adoption by 2009. Not applicable TA received from UNCTAD, international 
and regional experts. 
7. Presidential Decree on 
Fees and Service 
Charges GATT Article VIII Revised by the Ministry of Finance 
in June 2008. 
 
Approved by the Government in September 2008. 
 
Adopted by President in November 
2008. 2008  
8. Decree Law (Presidential 
Decree) on the Management of Foreign 
Exchange and Precious 
Metals GATT Article XV Revised by the Bank of Lao PDR in 
2007.  
Approved by the Government and 
the National Assembly in 2008.  
Process in progress to seek 
acceptance of IMF  Article VIII (expected by 2009). Not applicable TA received from IMF.  
  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3 
Page 6 No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
by National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
9. Law on Standardization2 TBT and SPS Law prepared by the National 
Authority on Science and 
Technology. 
 Approved by the Government in 
2007. 
 Adopted by the National Assembly 
in November 2007.  
 
 
  
 
 2007 TA to be requested from Trade Development 
Facility (TDF) and further assistance is 
needed for publication, dissemination, 
training, and establishing testing facilities.  
Transition period is required to adhere to the 
provisions of the TBT and SPS Agreements. 
10. Decree on the 
Implementation of the Law on Standardization TBT and SPS Draft to be prepared by the National 
Authority on Science and Technology by 2010. Not applicable Assistance is required to further work on the 
draft. 
11. Law on Metrology TBT and SPS Draft prepared by the National 
Authority on Science and 
Technology.  
To be approved by the Government 
by 2009. 
 
To be adopted by the National Assembly by 2010.  
 
  
 
 
 
2010 Assistance is required to further work on the 
draft Law.  
 Further assistance is needed for publication, 
dissemination, training, and establishing 
testing facilities. 
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the provisions of the TBT and SPS Agreements. 
12. Law on Livestock 
Production and 
Veterinary3 SPS Draft Law prepared by the Ministry 
of Agriculture and Forestry. 
 Approved by the Government in 
2008. 
 Adopted by the National Assembly 
in July 2008.  
 
  
 
 2008 TA to be requested from TDF and further 
technical and financial assistance is needed 
for capacity building, human resources training and infrastructure development and 
investment as per the recommendations in the 
Action Matrix of the Integrated Framework in Lao PDR. 
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the provisions of the SPS Agreement. 
                                                      
2 See TBT Action Plan (WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.2) for detailed activities on TBT. 
3 See SPS Action Plan (WT/ACC/LAO/13/Rev.2) for detailed activities on SPS.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3
 Page 7No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
by National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
13. Law on Plant Protection 
and Quarantine SPS Draft prepared by the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Forestry. 
 
Approved by the Government in 2008. 
 
Adopted by the National Assembly in December 2008.  
 
 
  
 
2008 TA to be requested from TDF for capacity 
building, human resources training and 
infrastructure development and investment as 
per the recommendations in the Action Matrix of the Integrated Framework in Lao PDR.   
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the provisions of the SPS Agreement. 
14. Law on Fisheries SPS Draft pr epared by the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Forestry. 
 To be submitted for approval by the 
Government by 2009. 
 To be submitted to the National 
Assembly for adoption by 2010.  
 
  
 
 2010  
15. Decree on the 
Establishment of the 
SPS/TBT Enquiry and 
Notification Points  
[formerly referred to as a 
Regulation on the Establishment of 
SPS/TBT Enquiry and 
Notification Points] SPS and TBT Decree to be adopted by 2010. 
 
TBT enquiry point to be established 
within the Department of Intellectual Property Standardization 
and Metrology, National Authority 
on Science and Technology.  
SPS enquiry point to be established 
within the Department of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and 
Forestry. 
 (Both enquiry points be operational 
upon accession). 
 SPS/TBT notification point to be 
established within the Foreign Trade 
Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and would 
be operational upon accession. Not applicable TA received fr om UNIDO to establish online 
database on TBT measures.  
 
Further assistance is required for raising awareness and disseminating on SPS and TBT 
measures.  
  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.3 
Page 8 No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
by National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
16. Law on Intellectual 
Property4 TRIPS Prepared by National Authority on 
Science and Technology. 
 
Adopted by the Government in July 2007. 
 
Approved by the National Assembly in November 2007.  
 
 
  
 
2007 Technical Assistance re ceived from WIPO to 
prepare the Model Law which forms the basis 
for drafting the IP Law.  EC-ASEAN Project 
Phase 2 provided comments on the draft Law.  The Project ende d in 2008.  
 
Capacity building is needed for awareness raising and train offi cials and judges for 
effective enforcement.  
 Transition period is required to adhere to the 
provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. 
17. Decrees Implementing 
the Law on Intellectual Property TRIPS To be prepared by the National 
Authority on  Science and Technology by 2011. Not applicable Capacity building is needed for awareness 
raising and train offi cials and judges for 
effective enforcement.  
 
TA is requested from EC and WIPO. 
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. 
Trade in Services 
18. Regulation to establish a 
GATS enquiry point GATS Enquiry point to be established 
within Foreign Trade Policy 
Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and to be 
operational upon accession. Not applicable Capacity building, including training and 
equipping, is needed for establishing the 
enquiry point.  
Organisation Acronyms: 
 
ASEAN  Association of South East Asian Nations EC  European Community 
FAO  Food and Agriculture Organization 
UNDP  United Nations Development Programme UNIDO  United Nations Industrial Development Organization  
WIPO  World Intellectual Property Organization 
WTO  World Trade Organization 
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4 See the TRIPS Action Plan (WT/ACC/LAO/ 15/Rev.2) for detailed activities on TRIPS.