WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.5 
23 January 2012 
 (12-0422) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Lao PDR Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE LAO PDR 
 
Action Plan on the Legislative Work and Implementation of  
the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) 
 
Revision 
  The following submission, dated 13 January 2012, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). 
 
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  WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.5 
Page 2 Issues Actions Implementation Timeframe Technical Assistance (TA) Provided/Sought 
1. TBT related activities Reassessment of the Institutional, Legal and Regulatory 
Framework for TBT. Launched in January 2011 and 
completed in June 2011 TA received from Trade Development 
Facility (TDF). 
2. Institutional strengthening 
activities Medium to Long-Term Institutional Development Strategy 
for Quality Infrastructure. Ongoing, and under brain storming 
process TA to be requested from TDF and USAID. 
3. Technical regulations Law on Standardization, No. 13/NA, dated 
26 December 2007. Adopted in December 2007 TA received from EU and UNIDO (ended in 
2008). 
Decree on the Implementation of the Law on Standardization. The draft was endorsed by Ministry 
of Justice in  January 2012 and to 
be adopted by Prime Minister by March 2012. TA received from USAID and TDF. 
Regulation on Quality Inspection of Goods, 
No. 1226/PMO-NAST, dated 17 July 2009. Adopted in July 2009  
Regulation on Basic Principles in Application of Sanitary 
and Technical Measures in Food Safety Management in accordance with the SPS Agreement, No. 518/MoH, dated 18 March 2009. Adopted in March 2009 Recommendations received from FAO and 
WHO.  TA received from TDF for publication, dissemination and training for all stakeholders. 
Regulation on Labelling of Pre-Packaged Food, No. 519/MoH, dated 18 March 2009. Adopted in March 2009 TA received from WHO on drafting. 
Code of Practice for Technical Regulations. To be dr afted by April 2012 TA to be requested from USAID. 
Regulation on Food Inspection (formerly referred to as 
Regulation on Food Control System). Regulation being drafted by MOH 
and to be adopted by March 2012 TA received from TDF, FAO legal expert has 
been employed for finalizing the regulation.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.5
 Page 3Issues Actions Implementation Timeframe Technical Assistance (TA) Provided/Sought 
4. Standards Law on Standardization, No. 13/NA, dated 
26 December 2007. Adopted in December 2007 TA received from EU and UNIDO 
(ended 2008). 
Decree on the Implementation of the Law on Standardization. The draft was endorsed by Ministry 
of Justice in January 2012 and to be adopted by Prime Minister by March 2012 TA received from USAID and TDF. 
Regulation on the Use of Standard Mark for Lao Products, 
No. 1718/ PMO-NAST, dated 7 August 2006. Adopted in August 2006 TA received from EU and UNIDO. 
Decision on the Organization and Activities of the National 
Standards Council, No. 235/PMO-NAST, dated 3 February 2010. Adopted in February 2010  
Regulation on Organization and Activities of Central 
Technical Committee, No. 336/NSC NAST, dated 22 October 2010. Adopted in October 2010  
5. Conformity Assessment Law on Standardization No. 13/NA dated 
26 December 2007. Adopted in 2007 TA received from EU and UNIDO (ended 
in 2008). 
Decree on the Implementation of the Law on Standardization. The draft was endorsed by Ministry 
of Justice in  January 2012 and to 
be adopted by Prime Minister by March 2012 TA received from USAID and TDF. 
Law on Metrology, No. 07/NA, dated 20 December 2010. Adopted in December 2010 Technical review by UNIDO Experts. 
Lao PDR joined MRA under ASEAN for Electrical and 
Electronic Equipment.  5 April 2002  
Establishment of testing facilities for construction materials, 
textiles and chemicals. Deferred TA to be requested.  
  WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.5 
Page 4 Issues Actions Implementation Timeframe Technical Assistance (TA) Provided/Sought 
6. Information Procedures Decree on Notification and Enquiry of Trade Related 
Information,  No. 363/PM , dated19 August 2010. Adopted in August 2010 TA received from EU on drafting and 
received from USAID and ADB for implementation. 
Establishment of TBT Enquiry Point under Decree on Notification and Enquiry of Trade Related Information No. 363/PM dated 19 August 2010   Decision on TBT Enquiry Point, No. 1199/ PMO-NAST, dated 22 June 2011 was adopted to strengthen coordination 
among notification unit, enquiry points and relevant 
authorities.   Address of TBT Enquiry Point:   Department of Standardization and Metrology, Ministry of Science and Technology;  PO Box 2279, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. Tel/Fax:  85621-243405 Email: enquiries@laostbt.gov.la  (To be operational upon accession) Operational upon accession 
    Adopted in June 2011 TA received from USAID and ADB for 
implementation.    TA received from USAID. 
Establishment of SPS and TBT Notification Unit under Decree on Notification and Enquiry of Trade Related Information No. 363/PM dated 19 August 2010   Decision on SPS and TBT Notification Unit, No. 0471/MOIC, dated 9 March 2011   Address of SPS and TBT Notification Unit:   Foreign Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce.  P.O. Box 4107, Phonexay Road, Vientiane Capital, 
Lao PDR 
Tel: 85621-450065 Fax: 85621-450066  Website: www.laoftpd.com   Operational upon accession 
    Adopted in March 2011 TA received from USAID and ADB for 
implementation, e.g. establishment of database, training of relevant staff on the SPS and TBT Agreements including through exchange experiences and study visit. 
Note:  Lao PDR will ensure that its legal framework on technical  regulations, standards and conformity assessment is in complia nce with the TBT Agreement by 
31 December 2012.  Full implementation of th e TBT Agreement is 31 Decembe r 2014.  Although this Actio n Plan indicates that much  progress has been achieved in the 
preparation and adoption of the legal framew ork in compliance with the TBT Agreement, Lao PDR still lacks the capacity to imple ment the provisions and it is working with 
development partners to achieve the objective of implementation. 
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