The Decision on import, export and transit of aquatic animals and products No. 4211 / MAF dated 29 November 2019 which made to protect consumers and the environment of water in the Lao PDR. The Decision is intended to define the principles, rules and measures to control the import, export and transit of aquatic animals and products in order to prevent aquatic animal diseases and threats of aquatic resources and reduce water pollution in the country. This is mean to protect human life and health and environmental safety. Additionally, in contributing and implementing the agreement of the Animal Welfare and phytosanitary which Lao PDR is a party.

The import requirements for aquaculture and aquatic products are as follows: Individuals, legal entities and organizations that intend to import aquatic products into Lao PDR should meet the following conditions:

1. Having an import license issued by the Fisheries Administration;

2. Having a certificate of aquatic health or aquatic hygiene certificate issued by authorities or official organizations of the country of origin in accordance with the importation requirements of the Lao PDR;

3. In a case of import of aquatic fauna, the species must have a certificate of breeding and aquaculture standard certificate;

The permission of aquaculture and aquatic products. Individuals, legal entities and organizations intending to submit aquatic fauna and aquatic products through the Lao PDR that shall submit an application form to the Department of Livestock and Fisheries. The form is Appendix 3 which is attached in this Decision.

The prohibitions that should be strictly enforced by individuals, legal entities and organizations are as follows:

1. Do not import, export and transit of prohibited aquatic species as defined by the Department of Livestock and Fisheries;

2. Do not import, export and transit of consumer products related to aquatic organisms that are harmful to the consumer;

3. Do not import of aquatic fauna and aquatic products from a country or region of the exporting country where the infestation is required.

 

The detail of the Decision on import, export and transit of aquatic animals and products No. 4211 / MAF dated 29 November 2019

 

 

Measures / Standards
# Name Type Agency Description Law Valid To Apply To
1 Requirement to obtain import permit - Animal Permit Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment importers of live animals must conform with specific conditions in annex No. 2 of the decision No. 0795/MAF and submit for the import permit with documents as specified in annex No. 3 to the department of livestock and fisheries to issue the permit according to documents in annex 4
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
2 Import permit for aquatic animals Permit Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Importers of aquatic animals must conform with specific requirements in annex 1 of this decision no. 4211/MAF and submit the import request application as specified in annex 3 to the department of livestock and fisheries to issue the import permit according to the form in annex 4
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
3 Inspection requirement for imported animals Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment the import of live animals must be inspected by the vet checkpoint borders
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
4 Inspection requirement for the import of aquatic animals Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment The import of aquatic animals must be inspected by the veterinarians at the border checkpoints
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
5 Requirement to obtain import permit - animal products Permit Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment importers of animal products (semen, fertile, baby animals, meat, and meat products) must conform with specified conditions in annex No. 2 of the decision No. 0795/MAF and submit for the import permit with documents as specified in annex No. 3 to the department of livestock and fisheries to issue the permit according to documents in annex 4
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
6 Requirement for Import license for aquatic animal products Permit Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment the importer of aquatic animal products must be conform to specific requirements as specified in annex 1 of the decision no. 4211/MAF and submit the import request application as specified in annex 3 to the department of livestock and fisheries according to form set in annex 4
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
7 Certification Requirement from Originating Country - Imported Aquatic Animals SPS Ministry of Agriculture and Environment The import of aquatic animals must be certified from originating country such as health certificate, breeding certificate (in case of breeding), quarantine certificate, CITES certificate (CITES controlled lists) and the technical certificate on farms, then submitted to the department of livestock and fisheries, ministry of agriculture and environment. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019. 9999-12-31 ALL
8 Inspection Requirement for Animal Products Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment The Import of Animal Products must be inspected by the vet at the checkpoint borders
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
9 Certificate requirement from originating country - import of aquatic animal products SPS Ministry of Agriculture and Environment the import of aquatic animal products must have a certificate from originating country such as phyto sanitary certificate or the quality certificate and the technical certificate on the slaughter factory or the storage and then submit the import request application to the department of livestock and fisheries, ministry of agriculture and environment. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019. 9999-12-31 ALL
10 Inspection requirement - export of animals Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment the export of animals must be inspected by veterinarians at border checkpoints
  1. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  2. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  3. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
11 Inspection Requirement for the export of animal products Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment the export of animal products must be inspected by the veterinarians at border checkpoint
  1. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  2. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  3. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
12 Import Inspection Requirement - Aquatic Animal Products Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment the import of aquatic animal products must be inspected by the veterinarians at the border checkpoints
  1. Law on Livestock Production and Veterinary Matters (Amended) No. 08/NA dated 11 November 2016
  2. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  3. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  4. Law on Fisheries (Amended) No. 41/NA, date 17 July, 2023
  5. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
13 Specified Ports of Customs Requirement - Import of Aquatic animals and their products General Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Aquatic animals and their products must be imported through ports of customs where specified by the department of livestock and fisheries or as specified by other government agencies which could be changed periodically Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019. 9999-12-31 ALL
14 Inspection Requirement - Exports of Aquatic Animals Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Exports of Aquatic Animals must be inspected by veterinarians at ports of customs
  1. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  2. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  3. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
15 Inspection Requirement - Exports of Animal Products Inspection Requirement Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Exports of Animal Products must be inspected by veterinarians at ports of customs
  1. Decision on the Import, Export, and Transit of Animal and Animal Products No. 0795/MAF, dated 18 April 2019
  2. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  3. Decree on the movement, import, export, and transit of animals, aquatic animals, animal and aquatic products, No. 644/GOL, date 25 November 2024.
9999-12-31 ALL
16 A certificate of origin from the exporting country is required for imported aquatic animals. SPS Ministry of Agriculture and Environment The import of aquatic animals requires certificates issued by the country of origin, including an Animal Health Certificate, Animal Breed Certificate (for breeding species), Quarantine Certificate, CITES Certificate (for CITES-controlled species), and a Farm Technical Standard Certificate. These documents have to be submitted together with the import application to the Department of Livestock and Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
  1. Decision on Import, Export and Transit of Aquatic Animals and Aquatic Products No. 4211/MAF, dated 29 November 2019.
  2. Decree on the management of international trade in aquatic animals, wild animals and endangered wild plants, No. 299/GOL, date 05 June 2024.
(not set) ALL
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