ASEAN Country Compliance
🇱🇦 Laos
Country-specific compliance requirements, regulatory agencies, and trade documentation guidance for agricultural and aquaculture trade with Laos.
Capital
Vientiane
Currency
Lao Kip (LAK)
Official Language
Lao
Trade Authority
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
Market Overview
Laos is a landlocked country in ASEAN with an agricultural economy focused on rice, coffee, timber, and increasingly, organic and specialty crops. The country has been developing its food safety and phytosanitary regulatory framework, and is a growing market for agricultural imports. Laos serves as a transit corridor for trade between China, Thailand, and Vietnam, and has been investing in agricultural export capacity.
Key Regulatory Framework
- Food Law 2013 — primary food safety legislation
- Plant Protection Law for phytosanitary requirements
- Livestock Law for veterinary requirements
- Customs Law for import/export procedures
- Decree on Import and Export of Goods
- ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) preferential tariffs
Import Requirements
- Import permit from Ministry of Industry and Commerce
- Phytosanitary certificate for plant products
- Veterinary health certificate for animal products
- Food safety certificate from Department of Food and Drug
- Customs import declaration
- Certificate of Origin for preferential tariff claims
Export Requirements
- Export permit from Ministry of Industry and Commerce
- Phytosanitary certificate from Department of Agriculture
- Certificate of Origin (Form D) for ASEAN
- Quality certificate for agricultural products
- Organic certification for organic exports
- Commercial invoice and packing list
Key Agricultural Commodities
RiceCoffeeTimberRubberCornCassavaOrganic VegetablesLivestock
Key Regulatory Agencies
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)
Agricultural policy and trade
Department of Agriculture (DOA)
Phytosanitary certificates and plant quarantine
Department of Livestock and Fisheries
Veterinary certificates and animal health
Department of Food and Drug (DFD)
Food safety and product registration
Lao Customs Department
Customs clearance and tariff administration
Trade Agreements
- ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
- ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA)
- RCEP
- Laos-China FTA
- ASEAN-India FTA