RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SAM/16 
29 April 2010 
 (10-2323) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Samoa Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF SAMOA 
 
Draft Legislative Action Plan  
 
 
 The following submission, dated 29 April 2010, is being circulated at the request of the 
Government of Samoa.   
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  WT/ACC/SAM/16 
Page 2 Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status  Time Period 
Customs Valuation Amendments 
Regulations 2009   Customs Amendment Act 2010 
 
Possible Additional Regulations To bring Samoa's customs valuation legislation into 
conformity with Articles 10, 12, and 14 of the Customs Valuation Amendments.   
 
To ensure WTO Customs Valuation Articles are included in Samoa's legislation. Effective. 
   Effective. 
 
Possible assistance of Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) to be determined in May 2010. 24 August 2009. 
   27 January 2010. 
Liquor Bill  To delink the right to import and the right to distribute. Draft. By December 2010. 
VAGST Amendment To remove VAGST exemption on domestically produced 
raw agricultural products. Seek assistance to undertake detailed analysis of WTO 
compatible system. 5 years from accession. 
Quarantine (Biosecurity) Act 2005 To provide a mandate for administrative procedures 
outlining control, inspection and approval procedures that are consistent with the SPS Agreement.    To train staff and ensure that Government officials and stakeholders have a good knowledge and understanding of SPS legislative requirements. Legislation is currently enforced and implemented.  
Review to be undertaken by SPC.  Implementing regulations to be identified.  Training is ongoing.   Technical assistance is being sought from the WTO 
and possibly from Australia for further training on the 
SPS Agreement.  Full implementation by 
1 January 2012. 
Intellectual Property  
Patents Act Trademarks Act Industrial Property Act    Protection of Geographical 
Indications Bill To review Samoa's IP legislation to ensure the legislation 
meets the policy objective of Samoa and conformity with Articles 9-14, 22, 25, 26, 27(1) and 29 provisions to be implemented as from accession: Articles 16(2), 16(3), 19, 20, 21, 27(2), 27(3), 30-34, 39-64.   To provide a legislative framework for the protection of 
geographical indications including appellation of origin. The Government of Australia has confirmed funding 
(April 2010) to undertake this project.  The process of recruiting the consultant will commence in May 2010.     Comments from Members have been received on the 
draft Protection of Geographical Indications Bill.  
 The review of the GI Bill will be included in the IP review project and the comments/suggestions will be taken into consideration.  Technical assistance has also been sought from WTO for training on the TRIPS Agreement.  Review June 2010; draft IP 
legislation by December 2011; Parliamentary passage 2012; Full implementation by January 2013.   
 
     Confirmed for 2011.  
   WT/ACC/SAM/16
 Page 3Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status  Time Period 
Foreign Investments Legislation To provide for a transparent mechanism for the review of 
criteria for the selection of restricted and reserved sectors. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour is 
currently finalising its review of the draft Foreign Investment Amendment Bill and Foreign Investment Regulations which involves the revision of the criteria for selection of restricted and reserved sectors. Passage by December 2010. 
Food Legislation To provide a regulatory mechanism for the fat content of 
meat that may be sold to consumers in Samoa. The Ministry of Health is reviewing the Food and 
Drugs Act with the assistance of WHO. Draft by 2013, Regulations 
developed by 2015. 
 
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