INDEX

Section 1 - General Provisions

Article 1. Purpose
Article 2. Definition of Terms
Article 3. Scope of Application

Section 2 - Rights and Requirements of Import and Distribution of Publication

Article 4. Rights for Importation and Distribution of Publication
Article 5. Requirements for Distribution Publication

Section 3 - Publication Import Licensing Procedures

Article 6. Application for Importation of Publication
Article 7. Required Documents for Publication Import License Application
Article 8. Publication Import License
Article 9. Fees and Charges
Article 10. Provision of Documents upon Actual Importation

Section 4 - Monitor and Inspection

Article 11. Monitor
Article 12. Inspection

Section 5 - Final Provisions

Article 13. Implementation
Article 14. Effectiveness

AUTHENTIC LAO ONLY

LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPLUBIC
PEACE INDEPENDENCE DEMOCRACY UNITY PROSPERITY

Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism     No. 518/MICT
Vientiane Capital, dated 13 June 2012

Decision
on Procedures for Importation and Distribution of Publications

The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism hereby issues the following Decision:

Section 1
General Provisions

Article 1. Purpose

This Decision sets out  procedures for import and distribution of publication in Lao PDR. This Decision has no purpose to restrict the quantity or value of importation, but only for statistical and import monitoring purposes, through the automatic import licensing regime. Top

Article 2. Definition of Terms

In this Decision “Publication” means books, electronic publication or other means of publication for distribution as defined in the Lao PDR’s Customs Nomenclature as follows:  4901; 4903; 4905.91.00; 4905.99.00 and 4906. Top

Article 3. Scope of Application

This Decision applies for the import and distribution of publication in Lao PDR. Top

Section 2
Rights and Requirements of Import and Distribution of Publication

Article 4. Rights for Importation and Distribution of Publication

  • Any individual, entity and organization located in or outside Lao PDR has the right to import or export in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Lao PDR.
  • The publication distribution enterprises registered under Lao PDR law  have the rights to distribute publication in Lao PDR. Top

Article 5. Requirements for Distribution Publication

Publication distribution enterprises shall comply with the following requirements:

  1. Be an authorized distributor of a publication;
  2. Have education or trainning course related to publication with a certificate.
  3. Have an approval from the Publication Administration Authority. Top

Section 3
Publication Import Licensing Procedures

Article 6. Application for Importation of Publication

The import of publication shall obtain an  import license from Department of Publication, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Top

Article 7. Required Documents for Publication Import License Application

Document required for applying for a publication import license are as follows:

  1. Application for publication import license;
  2. Copy of the following:
  • Valid Enterprise Registration Certificate or Concession Registration Certificate (for enterprises located in Lao PDR); or
  • Valid entreprise registration issued by the competent authority of the relevant country (for enterprises located outside  Lao PDR).
  1. List of publication that will be imported.

Any documents in foreign langauge shall be accompanied with its Lao translation as certified by the Notary Office of Lao PDR. Top

Article 8. Publication Import License

The issuance, modification and term of the publication import licenses shall follow the Decree on Goods Import Licensing Procedures No. 180/PM, dated 07 July 2009 on. The import license is not transferrable. Top

Article 9. Fees and Charges

Fees and Charges for issuance and modification of publication import licenses shall follow the Edict no.03/P, dated 19 November 2008 on “Fees and Charges”. Top

Article 10. Provision of Documents upon Actual Importation

Upon actual importation, importers shall provide the following documents to customs authority:

  1. Publication import license as issued under this Decision; and
  2. Other required documents as per customs regulations. Top

Section 4
Monitor and Inspection

Article 11. Monitor

After the publication were imported within 7 days, individual, entity and organization that imported such publication shall notify its purpose of use including detailed utilization plan for each period to Department of Publication, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Top

Article 12. Inspection

Individual, entity and organization exercise the business related to the publication such as: reading service, learning-teaching, distibution, etc., shall be under the monitor and inspection of the Department of Publication and shall be in compliance with the Law on Publishing and other related laws. Top

Section 5
Final Provisions

Article 13. Implementation

Department of Publication shall coordinate with relevant authorities to implement this Decision accordingly and effectively. Top

Article 14. Effectiveness

This Decision shall be effective 30 days after the date of signature. Top

The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism,
[Signed and sealed]
Prof. Dr. Bosengkham VONGDALA

Measures / Standards
# Name Type Agency Description Law Valid To Apply To
1 Requirement to obtain import license - Publications Licensing Requirement Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism To import printed products, it is needed to be obtained an import permit from Department of literature and Publication, MICT
  1. Decision on Procedures for Importation and Distribution of Publications No. 518/MICT
  2. Law on Publications No. 05/NA, dated 09 December 2008
 9999-12-31 ALL
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