Lao People's Democratic Republic Member profile
Status of notification in the reporting periods
2010-2012
2012-2014
2014-2016
2016-2018
2018-2020
2020-2022
2022-2024
2024-2026
Notification information
Types of restrictions
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 HS chapters notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 WTO justifications notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
Top 10 Non-WTO commitments notified
All biennial periods and all notifications
QR details
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/394/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.28.
Lao PDR prohibits or restricts the import of certain goods on the grounds of: protection of national security; protection of public order and standards of decency and morality; protection of human, animal or plant life or health; protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value; conservation of natural resources; compliance with the provisions of any legislation of Lao PDR; and fulfilment of obligations under the UN Charter. Goods prohibited for imports are listed in Notification No. 0973, Annex 1 (Table 3.6).[130]
3.29.
Lao PDR operates both automatic and non-automatic licensing for imports. The licensing regime is governed by Decree No. 180/PM of 7 July 2009 on Import Licensing Procedures and Decree No. 114/GoL of 6 April 2011 on Import and Export of Goods. These were notified to the WTO.[131]
3.30.
Goods subject to automatic and non-automatic licensing are defined through close consultations between the MoIC and relevant ministries and state agencies. The consultative process is detailed in Decree No. 114/GoL. Defining and supervising the implementation of the import licensing policy for each type of goods is the responsibility of the ministry supervising such goods. The MoIC serves as the focal point informing the public of the list of goods subject to import licensing requirements.
3.31.
Automatic licensing is in place for statistical and monitoring reasons only. Goods subject to automatic licensing include: road vehicles, except road vehicles with three wheels; petrol and gas; logs, trunks, bark and transformed timber; unmilled rice, low-standard rice, premium rice, and semi‑milled or fully milled rice, whether filtered or not; printing products; minerals and mineral products; and timber exploitation machines, logging machines, and chain saws, including parts and equipment thereof (Table 3.7).
3.32.
Non-automatic import licensing procedures are required for reasons of national security; protection of human, animal or plant life or health; or protection of the environment. Goods requiring non-automatic licensing include: gold bars; explosives used in industry; and guns and bullets for training and sports (Table 3.7).
3.33.
To obtain an import licence, the importer must apply to the Department of Import and Export of the MoIC, with accompanying documents. The application for a licence contains general information regarding the applicant (name, address, contact details) and the product in question (quantity, value, country of origin, point of importation). The accompanying documents include: copy of a valid enterprise registration certificate or concession certificate (for applicants domiciled in Lao PDR); copy of a valid business registration certificate issued by the competent authority of the relevant country (for applicants residing outside of Lao PDR); and copy of a valid identity card or passport. In addition, a fee varying between LAK 10,000 and LAK 40,000, must be paid, depending on the product (Table 3.5).
3.34.
In the case of automatic licensing, valid applications are approved immediately on receipt, to the extent administratively feasible, and within a maximum of 10 working days. In the case of non‑automatic licences, applications are processed within 30 working days (licences cannot be granted immediately).
3.35.
The licensing regime applies to products originating in and coming from all countries. It is not intended to restrict the quantity or value of imports. An import licence is valid for one year and can be extended for another three months. There is no penalty for non-utilization, or for utilizing only a portion of a licence. Import licences are not transferable.
3.36.
If a request for an import licence is refused by the relevant authority, the reasons for the refusal are provided in writing to the applicant. The applicant has the right to appeal to a higher authority and/or to seek recourse from the court of the Lao PDR in accordance with Law No. 7/NA of 9 November 2005 on Handling Petition.
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.46.
Under Notification No. 0973, Annex 1, Lao PDR bans the exports of certain products on the basis of protecting national, artistic and cultural heritage and protecting the environment (Table 3.9).[132] Source: Lao PDR Trade Portal. Viewed at: https://www.laotradeportal.gov.la/index.php?r=site/display&id=20#2.
3.47.
Lao PDR also operates automatic and non-automatic licensing for exports. For goods subject to export licensing, Decree No. 114/GoL on Export and Import of Goods provides the legal basis for such controls. Specific goods subject to export licensing are stipulated in Notification No. 0076/MOIC.DIMEX on the List of Goods subject to Automatic and Non-automatic Import-Export Licensing, of 2012 (Table 3.10).[133] Automatic export licensing is in place for statistical reasons, while non-automatic licensing is in place for public safety and national security reasons, environmental protection, and exchange rate stability. According to Decree No. 114/GoL, the licensing procedures set out in Decree No. 180/PM on Import Licensing Procedures are also applicable to export licensing (Section 3.1.5). Source: Lao PDR Trade Portal. Viewed at: https://www.laotradeportal.gov.la/index.php?r=site/display&id=76.
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.