WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/SAM/16/Rev.2 
31 May 2011 
 (11-2745) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Samoa Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF SAMOA 
 
Draft Legislative Action Plan 
 
Revision 
  
 The following submission, dated 30 May 2011, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Government of Samoa.   
  WT/ACC/SAM/16/Rev.2 
Page 2 Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status Time Period 
Customs Valuation Amendments 
Regulations 2009 
 
 Customs Amendment Act 2010 
 
Draft Samoa Customs Valuation Regulations 2011 To bring Samoa's Customs Valuation legislation into 
conformity with Articles 10, 12, and 14 of the Customs 
Valuation Amendments. 
  
 
Amends Samoa's 1998 Customs Valuation Regulations to ensure conformity of Samoa's Customs Valuation 
Regime to the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation. Effective. 
 
 
 Effective. 
 
First draft now being circulated to Members for their comments on the substance of the draft 
Regulations.  It is being formatted to its proper 
form. 24 August 2009. 
 
 
 27 January 2010. 
 
June 2012. 
Liquor Bill 2011 To promote and encourage responsibility in the 
manufacture, import, sale and consumption of liquor 
through the establishment of a scheme of liquor 
licenses including the delinking of the right to import and the right to distribute.  The Bill will be tabled in Parliament at its next 
available sitting. Passed by Parliament by 
December 2011. 
VAGST Amendment To amend Section 15 of the VAGST Act to ensure 
WTO compliance relating to the exemption on 
domestically produced raw agricultural products. Seek assistance from FAO and other donors 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 th at 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.  The Act is being 
implemented by through the Operations Manuals. Training is on-going. 
Technical assistance is being sought for further 
training on the SPS Agreement. Full implementation by 
1 January 2012. 
Intellectual Property Bill 2011  
Copyright Amendment Bill 2011 To modernize Samoa's Intellectual Property legislation 
and policies to address current intellectual property 
rights developments;  improve domestic standards and protections for Samoa;  and also to meet international 
standards and requirements including the World Trade 
Organisation TRIPS Agreement including 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. The Government of Australia provided funding to 
undertake the IP review project.  The first drafts of 
the legislation were circulated to Members on 6 May 2011. 
 
Samoa would appreciate r eceiving comments from 
Members as soon as possible (preferably prior to 
20 June 2011). 
 National public consultations on the Bills are 
underway. Review and final drafts IP 
Bill and Copyright 
Amendment Bill by July 2011;  Parliamentary 
passage in 2012;  full 
implementation by July 2013.  
   WT/ACC/SAM/16/Rev.2
 Page 3Legislation Purpose of Legislation Status Time Period 
Foreign Investment Amendment 
Bill 2011 
 
Foreign Investment Regulations 2011 Amends the Foreign Investment Act 2000. 
To promote foreign investment and to regulate such 
investment by guaranteeing the rights of citizens to 
participate in the economy of Samoa.  This includes the clear definition of the Reserv ed and Restricted list and 
provide for a transparent mechanism for the review of 
criteria for the selection of restricted and reserved sectors. The Revised Draft is now being circulated to 
Members for comments. 
 
Samoa would appreciate r eceiving comments from 
Members as soon as possible (preferable before 
20 June 2011). Passage by December 2011. 
Food Legislation To provide a WTO consistent regulatory mechanism 
for the import and sale of food including the fat content 
of meat.  The Ministry of Health is reviewing the Food and 
Drugs Act with the assistance of the WHO. Draft by 2012, regulations 
to be developed by 2014. 
 Samoa notes the 
commitment to replace the 
import of turkey tail ban within three years of 
accession. 
Customs Tariff Act Amend Section 9 to bring into conformity with the 
WTO Anti-Dumping provisions. Work has not commenced.  Technical assistance 
will soon be confirmed to draft the amendment. Draft targeted to be 
available by June 2012. 
Customs Act 1977 A major reform with a view of amending the Customs 
Act 1977 is being planned.  The review will take into 
consideration conformity to WTO provisions and commitments including the commitment in Rules of 
Origin. Work has not commenced.  Technical assistance 
will soon be confirmed to undertake this project. Projected targeted to 
commence in the 
2011/2012 financial year. 
 
 
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