RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4 
27 May 2010 
 (10-2919) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Lao PDR Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE LAO PDR 
 
Legislative Action Plan  
 
Revision  
   The following submission, dated 18 May 2010, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). 
 
 
_______________ WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4 
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 the country's legislative framework into 
conformity with WTO provisions.  The second section outlines an agenda for enacting and implementing laws and/or adop ting 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 been approved by the Lao PDR National Assembly: 
Laws Year of Adoption 
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 
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 and Veterinary 2008 
Law on Plant Protection 2008 
Law on Investment Promotion 2009 
Law on Fisheries 2009 
 
 The following Decrees, Regulations and Notificatio ns relevant to international trade have also 
been released: 
Decrees/Notifications  Year of Adoption 
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 Management and Use of Fertilizer 2000 
Ministerial Regulation on Management and Use of Pesticide 2000 
Decree on Goods Trading Business 2001 
Decree on the Import and Export Management 2001 
Decree on the Protection of Patents, Pe tty Patents and Industrial Designs 2002 
Regulation on the Registration of Trademarks 2002 
Prime Ministerial Notification on Export of Forestry Products 2002 
Decree on Border Trade Zone  at Bane Dansavanh 2002 
Decree of the Prime Minister on Special Economic Zone at Savan-Seno, Savannakhet 
Province 2003 
Regulation on the Implementation of the Patents Decree 2003  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Decrees/Notifications  Year of Adoption 
Decree on Trade Competition  2004 
Ministerial Guidelines on Lao PDR Organic Standard  2005 
Prime Minister's Instruction on Streamlining 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 Implementation of the Law on the Promotion of Foreign 
Investment  2005 
Prime Minister's Order on the Implementation of Enterprise Law  2006 
Ministerial Instruction on Implementation of Enterprise Law  2006 
Regulation on Bottled Drinking Water  2006 
Regulation on Production, Exported-Imported Safe Food  2006 
Regulation on the Use of Standard Mark for Lao Products 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 
Presidential Decree on Fees and Services  Charges (2002) and amendments 2008 
Presidential Decree on the Management of Fo reign Exchange and Precious Metals 2008 
National Policy on Food Safety  2009 
Guidelines implementing Decree on Implementation of Customs Law  2009 
Ministerial Regulation on the Basic Principles in the Application of Sanitary and 
Technical Measures for the Food Safety Manage ment (formerly referred to as Decree on 
Implementation of Food Law) 2009 
Regulation on Labelling of Pre-Packaged Food  2009 
Regulation on the Quality Inspection of Goods 2009 
Presidential Ordinance on Conclusion, Accession and Implementation of Treaties 2009 
Decree on Import Licensing Procedures  2009 
Decree on Implementing Law of Value Added Tax 2009 
Notification on List of Goods Required Non-Automatic Import and Export Licensing 
(replaced Notification on the Li st of Controlled Goods for Im port and Export of 2006)  2009 
Decree on Rules of Origin  2010 
Ministerial Instruction on Implementation of Decree Law on Management of Foreign 
Currency and Precious Metals 2010 
Regulation on the Organisation and Activities of the National Standard Council 
(formally referred to as Decision on the Establishment on Standards Council) 2010 
 
  
  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4 
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. Decree on Implementing 
the Law on the 
Investment Promotion 
(to replace the Decree on Implementation of the 
Law on the Promotion of 
Domestic Investment and the Decree on 
Implementation of the 
Law on the Promotion of Foreign Investment) Subsidies and 
Countervailing 
Measures, Trade-
Related Investment Measures Draft prepared by the Ministry of 
Planning and Investment. 
 
To be approved by the Government by the end of 2010.  
 
 
Not required. 
N/A 
2. Amendment to the 
Decree on the Import 
and Export Management (2001) Import Licensing 
Procedures, Trading 
Rights Amendment prepared by the 
Ministry of Industry and Commerce. 
 To be approved by the Government 
by the end of 2010.  
 
 Not required. TA is received from de velopment partners and 
consultation with businesses has taken place.  
3. Regulation on Food 
Inspection (formerly referred to as Regulation 
on Food Control System) SPS/TBT Draft to be adopted by the Ministry 
of Public Health by 2011. Not required. Recommendations received from FAO and 
WHO.   
TA to be requested from TDF for publication, 
discrimination and training for all stakeholders.  
4. Regulation on Food 
Additives SPS Draft to be adopted by the Ministry 
of Public Health in 2011. Not required. TA to be requested from TDF, FAO and 
WHO for drafting and finalizing the 
regulation.  
5. Amendment to the 
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 December 2010).  
  
 
  
Not required.   TA received from IMF.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4
 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. Decree on the 
Implementation of the Law on Standardization TBT/ SPS Draft to be prepared by the National 
Authority on Science and Technology. 
 
To be approved by the Government by 2010.  
  
 
Not required. TA to be received from the TDF. 
7. Law on Metrology TBT and SPS Draft prepared by the National 
Authority on Science and 
Technology.  
Approved by the Government in 
2009.  
To be adopted by the National 
Assembly by 2010.  
 
  
 
  
2010 TA is required to further work on the draft 
Law.  
8. Amendment to Law on 
Agriculture AOA Amendment prepared by the 
Ministry of Agriculture and 
Forestry. 
 To be submitted to the National 
Assembly for adoption in 2010.  
 
 
 2010 TA to be requested from the TDF. 
9. Amendment to the 
Decree on Inspection of Live Animal on Import 
and Transit SPS Amendment prepare by the Ministry 
of Agriculture and Forestry.  
To be approved by the Government 
in 2010.  
  
Not required. Recommendation received from EU.  
10. Amendment to the 
Decree on Animal 
Epidemic Diseases SPS Amendment prepared by the 
Ministry of Agriculture and 
Forestry. 
 To be approved by the Government 
in 2010.  
 
 
 Not required.   Recommendation received from EU. 
11. Regulation on Criteria 
for Livestock Production 
and Veterinary Business SPS To be approved by the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Forestry in 2010. Not required. 
N/A  
  WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4 
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 
12. Ministerial Decision on 
Meat Inspection (formerly referred to as 
Decree on Meat 
Inspection) SPS To be approved by the Ministry of 
Agriculture and Forestry in 2010. Not required.   Recommendation received from EU. 
13. Notification on 
Automatic Licensing Import Licensing 
Procedures To be approved by the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce by the end 
of 2010. Not required. Recommendation received from USAID and 
UNCTAD.  
14. Amendment to the Tax 
Law GATT Article III Amendment prepared by the 
Ministry of Finance.  
To be submitted to the National 
Assembly for adoption by the end of 2011.  
  
2011 TA received from the World Bank. 
15. Ministerial Instruction to 
implement the Decree 
Implementing Customs 
Law CVA To be approved by the Ministry of 
Finance by 2011. Not required. TA to be requested from the World Bank. 
16. Decree on the SPS/TBT 
Notification Centre and 
Enquiry Points (formerly 
referred to as a Regulation on the 
Establishment of 
SPS/TBT Enquiry and Notification Points) SPS and TBT Draft prepared by the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce. 
 
To be adopted by the Government by end of 2010.  
 
 
Not required.   TA received from EU on drafting. 
 
TA to be requested from USAID and ADB for 
Implementation.   
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
17. Decree Implementing the 
Law on Intellectual 
Property TRIPS Draft prepared by the National 
Authority on Science and 
Technology.  
To be approved by Government in 
2011.  
 
  
Not required. TA received from WIP O and EU (ECAP III 
Project). 
18. Regulation on Copyright 
and Related Rights TRIPS To be approved by the National 
Authority on Science and Technology by 2012. Not required. TA received fr om WIPO and EU (ECAP III 
Project).  
   WT/ACC/LAO/9/Rev.4
 Page 7No. Laws and Decrees Relevant WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected Approval Date 
by National Assembly 
(if applicable) Technical Assistance Requirements 
Trade in Services 
19. Regulation to establish a 
GATS Enquiry Point GATS To be approved by the Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce by the end of 2010. Not required. Capacity building, including training and 
equipping, is needed for establishing the Enquiry Point.  
Organisation Acronyms:  ADB  Asian Development Bank 
EU  European Union 
FAO  Food and Agriculture Organization TDF  Trade Development Fu nd, Integrated Framework 
UNDP  United Nations Development Programme 
UNIDO  United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
USAID  United States Agency for International Development 
WIPO  World Intellectual Property Organization WTO  World Trade Organization 
 
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