According to the news of the Department of Food and Drug, Ministry of Health (http://www.fdd.gov.la), on 23 October 2020, the Ministry of Health held a consultation meeting on the management of medicinal natural resources at the Vientiane Plaza Hotel in Vientiane. The meeting was Co-chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bounkong Sihavong, Minister of Health Ministry, Ms. Bounkham Vorachit, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Mr. Somchit Inthamit, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Ministry and Dr. Bounphaeng Phoummalaysit, Deputy Minister of Health Ministry, with 31 representatives from relevant departments.
The purpose of the meeting was discussion for mechanisms of coordination between the various sectors in order to manage medicinal natural resources, review policies, notices and legislation, to establish a list between natural resources and non-timbers for permission in exploring, having a factory or laboratory, importing natural materials and using prohibited chemicals that are harm to the environment.
The discussion agreed that the coordination should be improved and unified the same regulations, especially, in avoiding duplication the list of medicinal nature resource and non-timber. Therefore, the Ministry of Health will assign a community to manage the medicinal nature resource. The community will be responsible for review relevant documents in order to improve a better regulation, coordination and inspection factories and laboratories whether they are following the measures and the law. The next process is that the community will inform the relevant departments and ministries in terms of technical review which are Food and Drug, Forestry Department, Industry and Handicraft Department, Registration and Enterprise Management Department and the Ministry of Natural and Environmental. These relevant departments will raise the issues to high ranging level such as Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister for making a decision.
At the end of the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bounkong Sihavong, Minister of Health Ministry, stated that there are many issues related for planting, raising livestock, harvesting, producing and distributing. Until present, there have been many duplicated legislation that overlap the content that reduced the ability to implement. Therefore, it is requested all relevant sectors take in to account for this matters in order to facilitate doing business in Lao PDR.
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