WORLD TRADE  
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WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7 
12 March 2012 
 (12-1378) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Provisional Legislative Action Plan 
 
Revision 
 
  The following submission, dated 8 March 2012, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Yemen. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
Agenda for Yemen's Law-Making Process for WTO Conformity 
 
Yemen submits this Provisional Legislative Action Plan as part of its endeavour to provide 
for maximum transparency in its process of accession to the WTO. Yemen reserves the right, 
however, to amend this plan from time to time to reflect progress and, if necessary, new issues.   
This plan should serve as a basis for discussion and should not be understood to create firm 
commitments. The envisaged timelines are at pr esent tentative and subject to confirmation. 
It should be noted that references to WTO Agreements do not necessarily reflect present 
non-compliance with the  respective agreements.  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7 
Page 2  
No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative 
Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/In tended Actions Expected Approval 
Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
1. Instrument of 
Ratification of Accession to WTO  Marrakech 
Agreement Establishing WTO 
1994 
 - Yemen's Protocol of Accession is to be approved 
by WTO; 
- Approval by the Council of Ministers; 
- Review and approval by the Parliament; and 
- The President issues the Decree for Ratification.  Up to 6 months after 
the WTO approval of Yemen's Protocol of 
Accession   
2. Amendments to Law 
No. 14 of 1990 "On 
Customs", with amendments General Agreement 
on Tariffs and 
Trade (GATT 1994) The amended Law has been approved by the President 
in September 2010. 2010  October 2010 
3. Investment Law Trade Related 
Investment 
Measures Agreement The Law has been approved by the President in 
September 2010.  September 2010 September 2010 
4. Law "On Protection of 
Local Production 
against Unfair Trade Practices"  GATT 1994, 
Anti-Dumping 
Agreement, SCM Agreement, 
Safeguards 
Agreement The Law has been approved by the President on 
9 November 2010.  The Law is in force.
 2010 November 2010 November 2010 
5. Decision on the 
establishment of 
TBT/SPS Enquiry 
Points Agreements on 
Technical Barriers 
to Trade and 
Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures
 - A Decree has been issued to set up an Enquiry 
Point for (SPS) at the Ministry of Agriculture and 
is currently operational; and 
- A Decree has been issued to set up an Enquiry 
Point for (TBT). It is currently under establishment 
at the Yemen Standardization, Metrology and 
Quality Organization (YSMO). 2009  2009 
6. Draft Law "On the 
Protection of Copyright 
and Related Rights"  (Revision of existing 
provisions in Law 
No. 19 of 1994 "On Intellectual Property 
Rights Relating to 
Copyright and Related Rights") Trade-Related 
Aspects of 
Intellectual Property (TRIPS) 
 
  - The draft Law "On the Protection of Copyright and 
Related Rights" has been prepared; 
- The draft Law has been sent to WIPO for 
consultation; 
- The draft Law has been reviewed by the Ministry 
of Legal Affairs; 
- The draft Law has been approved by the Council 
of Ministers in February, 2008; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by the 
Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President.
 Expected date of approval by the 
Parliament May 2012 
 
  
  
 Expected date of 
implementation 
June 2012  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7
 Page 3No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative 
Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/In tended Actions Expected Approval 
Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
7. Draft Laws on the 
Protection of Industrial Property: 
- Trademarks and 
geographical indications 
- Industrial designs 
- Patents - Undisclosed 
information 
- Layout-designs of 
integrated circuits 
- Control of 
anti-competitive practices in 
contractual 
licenses 
(Revision of existing 
provisions in Law No. 19 of 1994 "On 
Intellectual Property 
Rights Relating to Industrial Property") 
 Trade-Related 
Aspects of Intellectual 
Property (TRIPS) 
 - The draft Laws "On the Protection of Industrial 
Property" have been prepared; 
- The draft Laws have been sent to WIPO for 
consultation; 
- The Trademarks and Geographical Indications 
Law has been approved by the President on 
21 November 2010; 
- The Industrial Design Law has been approved by 
the president on 26  December 2010; and 
- The Patents, Utility Models, Integrated Circuits 
and Undisclosed Information Law has been approved by the President on 12 January 2011. 
 2010 
  
 
  
  
  
 
21 November 2010  
 
26 December 2010  
12 January 2011  
  
 
March 2011  
 
 
March 2011  
April 2011 
  
 
  
Full 
implementation of 
the TRIPS 
Agreement in December 2016 
(except for 
protection and enforcing patents 
and rights in 
undisclosed information with 
respect to 
pharmaceutical products on 
which Doha 
Declaration is applied).  Taking 
into consideration 
the need for the technical 
assistance.  
  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7 
Page 4 No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative 
Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/In tended Actions Expected Approval 
Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
8. Membership to the 
Berne Convention for the Protection of 
Literary and Artistic 
Works (1971) Trade-Related 
Aspects of Intellectual 
Property (TRIPS) Yemen has been a member to the Berne Convention for 
the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1971) since 14 April 2008. 2008 
   2008   
9. Membership to the 
Paris Convention for 
the Protection of 
Industrial Property (1967) Trade-Related 
Aspects of 
Intellectual 
Property (TRIPS) Yemen has been a member to the Paris Convention for 
the Protection of Industrial Property (1967) since 
15 November 2006. 2006  2006 
10. Internal Trade Law GATT 1994 The Law has been approved by the President on 
28 March 2007.  The Law is in force. 2007  2007 
11. External Trade Law GATT 1994 The Law has been approved by the President on 
24 July 2007.  The Law is in force. 2007  2007 
12. Plant Quarantine and 
Phytosanitary 
Measures Draft Law 
 SPS Agreement - The draft La w "On Plant Quarantine and 
Phytosanitary Measures"  has been prepared; 
- The draft Law has been reviewed by the Ministry 
of Legal Affairs in June 2010.  The draft Law  has 
been submitted to the Council of Ministers 
on 10 July 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers 
20 July 2010.  The draft law is currently being 
reviewed by the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Approved by the 
Parliament 
March 2011  Date of 
implementation 
July 2011 
13. Arbitration Draft Law Dispute 
Settlement 
Understanding    - The draft Law has been approved by the Council 
of Ministers in July 2007;  
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by the 
Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Expected date of 
approval by the 
Parliament 2012 
 
  Expected date of 
implementation 
2012  
14. Law  "On Bids, 
Tenders, and Government 
Warehouses" Government 
Procurement 
 The Law has been approved by the President on 14 August 2007.  The Law is in force. 2007  2007  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7
 Page 5No. Laws/Regulations/ 
Administrative 
Decisions WTO Agreement Status of Draft/In tended Actions Expected Approval 
Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
15. Regulations related to 
implementing Trading Rights commitments: 
- Law No. 33 of 
1991 "On Commercial 
Registrar"; and 
  
- The Regulation 
"On Registration of Foreign 
Importers".  Articles III, XI of 
the GATT 1994  
 
 
The amended Law has been approved by the President on 21 November 2010. 
 
 
 
 
The draft Regulation is under preparation.
  
  
 
  
 
  
July 2013  
  
November 2010 
  
 
 
  
  
After three years 
from the date of accession/after 
the agreed 
transition period.  
After three years 
from the date of accession/after 
the agreed 
transition period. 
 
  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7 
Page 6 The following group of legislation has been finalized as one packag e, and was reviewed by the Ministry of Legal Affairs during June 2010.  They were submitted 
to the Council of Ministers on 10 July 2010.  They were discussed and approved by the Council of  Ministers on 20 July 2010 and are currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament.  
No Laws/Regulations/Administrative 
Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected 
Approval Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
1. Draft amendment to Law No. 17 of 
2004 "On Protection and Organization 
of Animal Wealth" SPS -  Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in 
June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers on 
20 July 2010; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Approved by 
the Parliament 
in March 2011  January 2013 
According to 
paragraph 86, Table 9 of the 
Draft Working 
Party Report 
2. Draft amendment to Law No. 25 of 
1999 "On  Organizing the Circulation 
of Pesticides" SPS -  Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in 
June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers 
on 20 July 2010; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Approved by 
the Parliament 
in January 2011  January 2013 
According to 
paragraph 86, 
Table 9 of the Draft Working 
Party Report 
3. Draft amendment to Law No. 2 of 
2006 "On Regulation of fishing and 
Exploitation of Marine Life" Article VIII of 
the GATT 1994 - Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in 
June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers 
on 20 July 2010; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Expected date 
of approval by 
the Parliament 
in March 2011  19 January 2012 
 
4. Draft amendment to Labor Law No. 5 
of 1995 GATS -  Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs 
in June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers 
on 20 July 2010; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Expected date 
of approval by the Parliament 
in May 2012  Expected date of 
implementation August 2012 
 
5. Draft amendment to Articles 5 and 6 
of Law No. 41 of 2005 "On Customs 
Tariffs"  Article VII of 
the GATT 1994 - Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs 
in June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers, 
20 July 2010; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. Expected 
Approval by 
the Parliament in June 2012   Expected date of 
implementation 
September 2012 
  
   WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7
 Page 7No Laws/Regulations/Administrative 
Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected 
Approval Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
6. Draft amendment to Article 53 of Law 
No. 40 of 1992 "On Regulation  of 
Carrying and Trading in Arms and 
Ammunitions" Article VIII of 
the GATT 1994 - Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs 
in June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers 
on 20 July 2010; 
- The draft Law is currently being reviewed by 
the Parliament; and 
- Issuance by the President. 
 Approval by 
the Parliament 
in  May 2012  January 2013 
 
7. Draft amendment to Republican 
Decree No. 49 of 1993 "On the 
Implementing Regulation of Law 
No. 25 of 1990 'On Press and 
Publication Law'" Article VIII of 
the GATT 1994 - Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs 
in June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers on 
20 July 2010; and 
- Issuance the Regulation.  2010 5 October 2010 5 October 2010 
8. Draft amendment to Prime Minister's 
Decision No. 333 of 2004 "On 
Regulation for Manufacturing and 
Trading in Drugs and Medical 
Appliances" Article VIII of 
the GATT 1994 The Decision to amend the Regulation has been 
approved by the Prime Minister on 
6 September 2010. 
 2010 6 September 2010 6 September 2010 
9. Draft amendment to the Decision of 
the Minister of Information No. 9 of 
1998 "On the Financial Regulation of 
the Press and Publication Law" Article VIII of 
the GATT 1994 The Decision to amend the Regulation has been 
approved by the Minister of Information on 
30 August 2010. 2010 30 August 2010 30 August 2010 
10. Draft amendment to Minister of 
Agriculture and Irrigation's Decision 
No. 10 of 2002 "On the Implementing 
Regulation of Law No. 25 of 1999 'On 
Organizing and Circulation of 
Pesticides'"    SPS The Decision to ame nd the Regulation has been 
approved by the Minister of Agriculture and 
Irrigation on 25 August 2010. 2010 25 August 2010 25 August 2010 
11. Draft amendment to the Decision of 
the Minister of Finance No. 399 of 
2002 "On Fees for Special and Real 
Warehouses" Article VIII of 
the GATT 1994 The Decision to amend the Minister of Finance 
No. 339 of 2002 "On Fees for Special and Real 
Warehouses" has been approved by the Minister 
on 21 September 2010. 2010 21 September 2010 January 2013 
According to paragraph 86, 
Table 9 of the 
Draft Working Party Report  
  WT/ACC/YEM/9/Rev.7 
Page 8 No Laws/Regulations/Administrative 
Decisions WTO 
Agreement Status of Draft/Intended Actions Expected 
Approval Date Date of Issue Date of 
implementation 
12. Prime Minister's Draft Decree "On 
Executive Regulation of the 
Implementation of the Customs Law" Article VII of 
the GATT 1994 - Approved by the Ministry of Legal Affairs 
in June 2010; 
- Approved by the Council of Ministers 
on 20 July 2010; and 
- Issuance the Regulation by the Prime 
Minister. 
 2011 2013 After the transition 
period 
31 December 2016 
 
  
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