You should follow this procedure if you are intending to import any food products. Food products are products of animal or vegetable origin that have been processed or packaged. If you are importing livestock or fresh or frozen fish please refer to the relevant procedures for these products. Click here to view these procedures.
Note 1
A trader wishing to import food products must present various documents to the Department of Food of the Ministry of Health in order to obtain an Import Permit. The trader must use the prescribed form. Click here to view a sample.
Note 2
Click here to view an application form.
Note 3
The application must be accompanied by a number of supporting documents that will enable the Ministry of Health to assess the product. These documents may include an Analysis Certificate or other certificates. These certificates are usually listed on the application form but, if in doubt, you should seek guidance from the relevant department of the Ministry of Health.
Note 4
The Ministry of Health will issue the Import Permit. This document must be presented to Customs and to the Ministry of Health Inspector at the border when importing the goods.
Note 5
The trader may now proceed with the normal Import procedure (click here to view).
Note 6
When the goods arrive at the border the trader must present himself to the Ministry of Health Officer who will check the documents and will carry out a physical inspection of the products to allow the consignment to be cleared.
Forms
| # | Title | Description | Issued By | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Request for Food Import Permit | Request for Food Import Permit | Ministry of Health | |
| 2 | Import Permit (Food) | Import Permit (Food) | Ministry of Health |
Measures
| # | Name | Description | Measure Type | Agency | Comments | Legal Document | Validity To | Measure Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Requirement to obtain an import permit - Food | For all food it is necessary to obtain an import permit for every importation from the Department of Food of the Ministry of Health. | Permit Requirement | Ministry of Health | To ensure the quality and safety of product to consumer. | Law on Food (Amended) No. 33/NA, dated 24 July 2013 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 2 | Composition of Ingredients in Iodized Salt | Imported iodized salt must contain prescribed quantities of certain substances and conform to various minimum quality standards. | SPS | Ministry of Health | To ensure the safety of product to consumer in order to eradicate iodine deficiency disorder. | Provision On Iodized Salt standard No. 102/MOH | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 3 | Packaging requirements for Iodized Salt | Imported iodized salt must be packed into specific types of containers. | SPS | Ministry of Health | To maintain the quality of salt for the safety of consumers. | Provision On Iodized Salt standard No. 102/MOH | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 4 | Labelling Requirement for Iodized Salt | Imported iodized salt must conform to prescribed labelling requirements. | TBT | Ministry of Health | To provide information of quality and application to customer for the safety of consumers | Provision On Iodized Salt standard No. 102/MOH | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 5 | Storage Requirements for Iodized Salt | Imported iodized salt should be stored under certain prescribed conditions. | SPS | Ministry of Health | To maintain the quality of salt for the safety of consumer’s health. | Provision On Iodized Salt standard No. 102/MOH | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 6 | service fees - export certificate of foods and drugs | fees charged on issuing the export certificate of foods and drugs in english is 50,000 kip/time | Duty/Tax Payable | Ministry of Health | For technical management and to support expenditure of state budget | The President of Lao PDR’s Decree on Fee and Service Charge, No. 002/POL, date 17 June 2021 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 7 | service fee - import license of foods | - fees charged on issuing the import license of foods for company is 50,000 kip/invoice/time. - service fees charged on issuing the import license of foods for retail traders is 20,000 kip/time. - service fees charged on issuing the registration of imported foods (supplementary foods) is 50,000 kip/time | Duty/Tax Payable | Ministry of Health | For technical management and to support expenditure of state budget | The President of Lao PDR’s Decree on Fee and Service Charge, No. 002/POL, date 17 June 2021 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 8 | service fee - import document scrutiny | - service fees charged on the scrutiny of import documents of foods at the department of food and drug or the provincial department of food and drug is 50,000 kip/invoice/time - service fee charged on the scrutiny of import documents of foods including attaching barcode, 1 barcode equals 1 time at border is 20,000 kip/invoice/time | Duty/Tax Payable | Ministry of Health | For technical management and to support expenditure of state budget | The President of Lao PDR’s Decree on Fee and Service Charge, No. 002/POL, date 17 June 2021 | 9999-12-06 | Good |
| 9 | Labelling Requirement for Imported Food | All food imported into Laos must be labelled indicating the correct details and information about the food | TBT | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumers' health | Law on Food (Amended) No. 33/NA, dated 24 July 2013 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 10 | Export Inspection Requirement of food | Food and Drug Department may issue certificates of health, certificates of analysis or other necessary documents required by importing country. Therefore inspection for export is required by Food and Drug Department. | Inspection Requirement | Ministry of Health | To ensure that the quality of food product is in compliance with standards prescribed by the importing country. | Law on Food (Amended) No. 33/NA, dated 24 July 2013 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 11 | Requires quality certification for chemicals contained in drinking water in sealed containers. | Drinking water in sealed containers imported and distributed in the Lao PDR shall have chemical content that meets the safety standards set by the Ministry of Health and have a quality certificate issued by the food safety authority of the country of origin and approved by the Department of Food and Drug Safety, Ministry of Health. | SPS | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumer's health | Decision on water containers (amendment), No. 2750/MOH, dated 28 August 2023. | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 12 | Charge fee - Registration Fee for Imported Food | Registration Fee for Imported Food is 400,000 Kip per 2 years/list | Duty/Tax Payable | Ministry of Health | For administrative revenue collection of state | The President of Lao PDR’s Decree on Fee and Service Charge, No. 002/POL, date 17 June 2021 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 13 | service fee - inspection of the export of foods | service fee charged on the inspection of food for export of 50,000 Kip/invoice/time | Duty/Tax Payable | Ministry of Health | For technical management and to support expenditure of state budget | The President of Lao PDR’s Decree on Fee and Service Charge, No. 002/POL, date 17 June 2021 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 14 | Inspection requirement for exporting Drug | Export drugs must be inspected by the public health officers at checkpoint borders. | Inspection Requirement | Ministry of Health | To ensure the quality and safety of products for customer | Law on Drugs and Medical Products (Amendment) No.07/NA, Dated 10 March 2026 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 15 | Microbiological of Drinking Water in Closed Container | Microbiological of drinking water in closed container imported and distributed in Lao PDR must comply with the specified safety standards by Ministry of Health | SPS | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumer's health | Decision on Drinking Water in Closed Container no. 585/MOH, dated 12 May 2006 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 16 | Labelling Requirement for Drinking Water in Closed Container | Labels for drinking water in sealed containers must comply with the requirements specified in Decision No. 2750/MOH. | TBT | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumer's health | Decision on food registration (amendment), No. 2749/MOH, dated 28 August 2023. | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 17 | Packaging for drinking water in sealed containers must comply with sanitary standards | Containers and packaging materials for drinking water, including bottles, jars, and cans, must be made from food-grade materials that are clean, non-reactive, and safe for drinking water. They must be certified for quality, standards, and safety by the Ministry of Health or the relevant authority in the country of manufacture. | SPS | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumer's health | Decision on water containers (amendment), No. 2750/MOH, dated 28 August 2023. | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 18 | Hygiene for Drinking Water in Closed Container | Production of Drinking water in closed container imported and distributed in Lao PDR shall comply with the good hygiene practice as by Ministry of Health | SPS | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumer's health | Decision on Drinking Water in Closed Container no. 585/MOH, dated 12 May 2006 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 19 | Storage and Transport requirement for Drinking Water in Closed Container | Drinking water in closed container imported and distributed in Lao PDR shall be stored and transported as specified by Ministry of Health | SPS | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumer's health | Decision on water containers (amendment), No. 2750/MOH, dated 28 August 2023. | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 20 | Requirement to obtain export permit - Narcotic Drugs, Nerve Affecting Substances and Basic Chemical Substances | To export Narcotic Drugs, Nerve Affecting Substances and Basic Chemical Substances, it is necessary to obtain an export permit from MOH of Lao PDR. | Permit Requirement | Ministry of Health | For the protection of human's health | Decision on the Management of Narcotic Drugs, Nerve Affecting Substances and Basic Chemical Substances no. 456/MOF, dated 19 April 2006 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 21 | Requirement for import of food through designated border point | Food may only be imported through border points designated by Food and Drug Department of the Ministry of Health. | General | Ministry of Health | To ensure the quality and safety of product to customer | Decision on Food Inspection No. 297/MOH | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 22 | Substances added in Imported Food | Substances contained in Food should comply with the Codex Standard for food additives (Codex STAN 192-1995) | SPS | Ministry of Health | To ensure the quality and safety of products for consumers | Law on Food (Amended) No. 33/NA, dated 24 July 2013 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 23 | Storage requirement - Import Food | Imported Food must be stored in good condition according to the characteristic of each product | SPS | Ministry of Health | To ensure the quality and safety of products for consumers | Law on Food (Amended) No. 33/NA, dated 24 July 2013 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 24 | Hygienic Requirement - Import Food | Production of Import food shall comply with the good hygiene practice as by Ministry of Health | SPS | Ministry of Health | For the protection of consumers' health | Decision on the Control on Production, Exportation-Importation of Food, No. 856/MoH, date 12 May 2006 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 25 | Requirement to obtain import permit - Alcohol Beverage | Imported alcohol beverage shall be obtained import permit from Ministry of Health | Permit Requirement | Ministry of Health | To protect people's life and health | Law on Alcohol Control No. 54/NA, dated 19 December 2014 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 26 | Certificate requirement issued by exporting country - Alcohol Beverage | Imported alcohol beverage shall be obtained certificates issued by exporting country such as: quality certificate, health certificate, et. and present such documents with application form to Ministry of Health | SPS | Ministry of Health | To protect people's life and health | Law on Alcohol Control No. 54/NA, dated 19 December 2014 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 27 | Inspection requirement - Import Alcohol Beverage | Imported alcohol beverage shall be inspected the quality by health officer | Inspection Requirement | Ministry of Health | To protect people's life and health | Law on Alcohol Control No. 54/NA, dated 19 December 2014 | 9999-12-31 | Good |
| 28 | Inspection requirement - Tobacco Import | Imported tobacco shall be inspected by health officer at the border | Inspection Requirement | Ministry of Health | To ensure the imported tobacco complies with labelling requirement as indicated by Ministry of Health | Law on cigarette controlled No 09/NA, date 16 Nov 2021. | 9999-12-31 | Good |
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