ID :
180081
Thu, 05/05/2011 - 07:47
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/180081
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Laos, FAO sign agreement for developing WTO SPS-related legislation
VIENTIANE,MAY (KPL) - On 27th April 2011, the Foreign Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Food and Agriculture in Laos and signed an agreement on Technical Assistance for the Development of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)-related Legal Framework in Laos.
The agreement banks on FAO’s expertise and experience in agricultural policy advice, including on legal and institutional issues. The FAO in Laos will host a FAO legal officer who will be based in Vientiane for 12 months to support the development of World Trade Organization (WTO) SPS -related legislation in the Lao PDR financed through the Multi-Donor Trade Development Facility (TDF), executed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce since 2008.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Bounsom Phommavihane, Director General of Foreign Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Mr. Serge Verniau, FAO Representative in the Lao PDR.
Technical assistance will be delivered under the direct supervision of the Department of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and in close cooperation with the relevant government agencies responsible for food safety, animal health and plant health protection.
With this technical support, the Lao Government will be able to reduce its regulatory gaps and redundancies in the protection of animal health, plant health and human health against pests, diseases and food-borne hazards.
Technical assistance will also work towards eliminating overlaps in institutional responsibilities. The new legal framework will promote compliance with WTO SPS principles and standards, and contribute to strengthening the rule of law and good governance principles in the country. It will also facilitate investments by creating a predictable and transparent regulatory setting.
The TDF is a multi-donor trust fund with initial financing from Australia and the European Union. Its objective is to support the National Integrated Framework Governance Structure by enabling trade facilitation measures and by increasing the Government capacity to pursue regional and global economic integration.
The agreement banks on FAO’s expertise and experience in agricultural policy advice, including on legal and institutional issues. The FAO in Laos will host a FAO legal officer who will be based in Vientiane for 12 months to support the development of World Trade Organization (WTO) SPS -related legislation in the Lao PDR financed through the Multi-Donor Trade Development Facility (TDF), executed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce since 2008.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Bounsom Phommavihane, Director General of Foreign Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Mr. Serge Verniau, FAO Representative in the Lao PDR.
Technical assistance will be delivered under the direct supervision of the Department of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and in close cooperation with the relevant government agencies responsible for food safety, animal health and plant health protection.
With this technical support, the Lao Government will be able to reduce its regulatory gaps and redundancies in the protection of animal health, plant health and human health against pests, diseases and food-borne hazards.
Technical assistance will also work towards eliminating overlaps in institutional responsibilities. The new legal framework will promote compliance with WTO SPS principles and standards, and contribute to strengthening the rule of law and good governance principles in the country. It will also facilitate investments by creating a predictable and transparent regulatory setting.
The TDF is a multi-donor trust fund with initial financing from Australia and the European Union. Its objective is to support the National Integrated Framework Governance Structure by enabling trade facilitation measures and by increasing the Government capacity to pursue regional and global economic integration.
