RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/LAO/9 
30 October 2006 
 
 (06-5222) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Lao PDR Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE LAO PDR 
 
Preliminary Legislative Action Plan  
 
 
 The following submission, dated 20 October 2006, is being circulated at the request of the 
Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). 
 
_______________ 
 
 WT/ACC/LAO/9 
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  
Since the submission of Lao PDR's Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime in March 2001, the 
following progress has been made in adoptio n of legislation relevant to the WTO. 
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: 
− Decree Law on Foreign Exchange  and Precious Metals (2002); 
− Law on the People's Courts (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); 
− Customs Law (2005); 
− Tax Law (2005); and 
− Enterprise Law (2005). 
The following Decrees, Regulations and Notifications relevant to international trade have also been 
released: 
− Decree on Goods Trading Business (2001); 
− The Prime Minister's Decree on Administration of Export and Import (2001);  
− Decree on Fee and Service Charges (2002); 
− 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 Boten, Luangnamtha Province (2002);  
− Decree on special economic zone at Sa van-Seno, Savannakhet Province (2003);  
− Instruction on Implementation of Decree La w on Management of Foreign Currency and 
Precious Metals (2003);  
− Order of Prime Minister regarding Import Export Facilitating Procedure of Import-Export 
Documentation and Goods Distribution throughout the Country (2004)   
− Decree on Trade Competition (2004); 
− Ministry of Commerce Notification on Goods Prohibited from Import and Export and Goods 
Subject to Licensing (2004); 
− Notification on Prohibited Goods for Import and Export (2004); 
− Notification on Goods subject to Approva l for Import and Export from Commerce and 
Relevant Sectors (2004);  
− Order of Minister of Commerce on Import and Export (2004); 
− Prime Minister's Instruction on Streamlini ng Investment Project Approval Procedure and 
Investment Promotion (2005);   WT/ACC/LAO/9 
 Page 3 
 
 
  − 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); and  
− Prime Minister's Decree on Implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Foreign 
Investment (2005). 
 
  
  WT/ACC/LAO/9 
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 Law Customs Valuation  
Rules of Origin Preparation by Ministry of Finance 
 
Adoption by Prime Minister in 2007 Not applicable  Assistance is required for raising awareness, 
automating customs clearance, training 
customs enforcement officers and 
strengthening anti-smuggling program.  
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the 
provisions of the Customs Valuation 
Agreement. 
2 Value Added Tax Law Article III GATT 1994 Preparation by Ministry of Finance 
 
Endorsed by the Government in 2006 
 
Submission to National Assembly by 
November 2006 2007  
3 Implementing Decree of the 
VAT Law  Article III GATT 1994 To be prepared by Ministry of Finance 
by 2008 Not applicable   
4 Revising Decree Law and 
Regulation on Foreign 
Exchange GATT Article XV To be revised by the Bank of Lao PDR. 2008  
5 Law on Standards  TBT and SPS Basic draft Law has been prepared by 
Science Technology and Environment 
Agency 
 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.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/9
 Page 5No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO Agreement Status of Draft/ 
Intended Actions Expected Approval Date by 
National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
6 Law on Metrology TBT and SPS Basic draft Law has been prepared by 
Science Technology and Environment 
Agency 
 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. 
7 Veterinary Law  SPS Basic draft Law has been prepared by 
Ministry of Agricultu re and Forestry  
 
To be endorsed by Government in 2007 2009 Assistance is required to further work on the 
draft Law.  
 
Further assistance is needed for capacity 
building 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. 
8 Law on Plant Quarantine SPS -- 
 -- Assistance is required to draft the Law.  
 
Further assistance is needed for capacity 
building and infrastructure development and 
investment as per th e recommend-ations in 
the Action Matrix of the Integrated 
Framework in Lao PDR.   
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the 
provisions of the SPS Agreement. 
9 Implementing Decree on 
the Food Law SPS -- Not applicable Assistance is needed to draft the Decree. 
10 Regulation on the 
establishment of SPS/TBT 
enquiry point SPS and TBT Enquiry point to be established within 
Department of Inte llectual Property 
Standardization and Metrology of the 
Science Technology and Environment 
Agency. Upon accession Assistance has been received from 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 
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 
Trade-Related Aspects of In tellectual Property Rights 
11 Law on Intellectual 
Property TRIPS Under preparation by Science 
Technology and Environment Agency 
 20121 Assistance has been received 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. 
 
Capacity building is needed for awareness 
raising and train officials and judges for 
effective enforcement.  
 
Transition period is required to adhere to the 
provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. 
Trade in Services 
12 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. Upon accession 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 Industri al Development Organization  
WIPO:   World Intellectual Property Organization 
WTO:   World Trade Organization  
 
__________ 
 
 
 
 
                                                      
1 In line with Decision in the WTO 6th Ministerial Conference, for LDCs to fully implement the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement by 2013.  However, the Lao 
Government intends to implement key parts of the TRIPS Agreement even before this date through decrees and regulations.