WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.6 
15 June 2012 
 (12-3205) 
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 1 June 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.6 
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. 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 Initial draft completed and 
being in consultation process before submission to the 
government by the end of 
2012 and adopted by February 2013 TA received from TDF and USAID. 
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  
3. Technical regulations Law on Standardization, No. 13/NA, dated 
26 December 2007. Adopted in December 2007  TA r eceived from EU an d UNIDO (ended 
in 2008). 
Decree implementing the Law on St andardization Adopted in June 20 12 Recommendations 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 Agre ement, No. 518/MoH, dated 
18 March 2009. Adopted in March 2009 Recommendations received from FAO and 
WHO. 
 
TA received from TD F 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 recei ved from WHO on drafting. 
Code of Practice for Technical Regulations. To be drafted by June 2012 
and adoption expected by 
October 2012 TA received from USAID. 
Decision on Food Inspection no. 297 /MOH, dated 
24 February 2012 (formerly referred to as Regulation on Food Control System). Adopted in February 2012 TA received from TDF, FAO legal expert 
has been employed for finalizing the regulation.  
   WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.6
 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 implementing the Law on St andardization Adopted in June 20 12 Recommendations 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. 
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 implementing the Law on Standardization Adopted in June 2012 TA and recommendations 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.6 
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 fully operational upon accession) Operational upon accession 
 
 
 Adopted in June 2011 
 
  
 
 Responsible staff have been 
assigned; Webpage has been 
developed under Trade Portal website; Training and study 
visit for responsible staff are 
requested from USAID 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 
visits. 
Notes:   Lao PDR will ensure that its legal framework on technical re gulations, standards and conformity  assessment is in compliance w ith the TBT Agreement 
by 31 December 2012.  Full implementation of  the TBT Agreement is 31 December 2014.   
 Although this Action Plan indicates that much progress has been achieved in the preparation a nd adoption of the legal framewor k in compliance with the 
TBT Agreement, Lao PDR still lacks the capac ity to implement the provisions and it is wo rking with development partners to achi eve the objective of 
implementation.  
  
   WT/ACC/LAO/14/Rev.6
 Page 5Plan of activities for 2012: 
1) Produce the Operational Manual for TBT Enquiry Point; 
2) Organize dissemination workshops and produce publications  on activities and function of the TBT Enquiry Point;  
3) Provide trainings and study visits for sta ff responsible for the TBT Enquiry Point; and 
4) Adopt all necessary legislation to ensure the full compliance with the TBT Agreement.  
 
Plan of activities and technical assistance needed for 2013: 
1) Dissemination workshops on the implementation of TBT legislation including the Law on Standardization and its implementing Decr ee; 
2) Adopt the Medium to Long-Term Institutional De velopment Strategy for Quality Infrastructure; 
3) Prepare to implement the Medium to Long-Term Institu tional Development Strategy for Quality Infrastructure; 
4) Capacities building and institutional strengthening to ensure eff ective implementation of the TBT legislations and the Medium t o Long-Term Institutional 
Development Strategy for Quality Infrastructure;  
5) Assign the national representatives to partic ipate the WTO TBT Committee meetings; and 
6) Organize an annual national review on the implementation of the TBT legislation. 
 
Plan of activities and technical assistance needed for 2014: 
1) Communicate to address on outstanding issues identified by annual national review; 
2) Organize dissemination workshops and consultation meetings, if necessary; 
3) Participate in the WTO TBT committee mee tings and other relevant WTO meetings; 
4) Organize an annual national review on the im plementation of the TBT legislation; and 
5) Exchange experiences with other Members. 
  
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