Goods Still at Customs While the Production Line Waits for Materials? This 2020 Decision in Laos: These Four Categories of Goods Can Be Picked Up First

货还在海关，生产线等米下锅？老挝这份2020年决定：这四类货可以先提走

ສິນຄ້າຍັງຢູ່ກົມພາສີ, ສາຍການຜະລິດລໍຖ້າວັດຖຸດິບ? ຂໍ້ຕົກລົງປີ 2020 ຂອງລາວ: ສິນຄ້າສີ່ປະເພດນີ້ສາມາດຖອນອອກກ່ອນໄດ້

Published: 2026-09-20 · LaoPaniti legal guides

Friends doing import business have probably all encountered this kind of anxiety: the container has already arrived at the port, but the detailed customs declaration has not yet been completed, while the raw material inventory at the factory has hit rock bottom. Every day the production line stops, the loss is real.

In fact, on March 13, 2020, the Lao Customs Department signed a decision—"Decision on Granting the Authority to Approve the Withdrawal of Goods and Items from Warehouses or Customs Ports Before Detailed Customs Declaration" (No. 01446/Customs Department). What it addresses is: under certain specific circumstances, goods can be withdrawn from warehouses or customs ports before the detailed customs declaration is completed. This is not a new regulation, but many enterprises still do not know how to use it.

Which Goods Can Be "Picked Up First and Declared Later"?

This decision divides the authority into two levels.

The first level is one that the head of an international customs checkpoint can directly review and issue. According to Article 1 of the decision, it includes four categories:

1. Raw materials and equipment urgently needed for use by import investment enterprises, provided that the enterprise has been verified by the central or local planning and investment department;
2. Imported medical equipment, such as vaccines, similar medicines, and medical devices;
3. Imported materials during disasters—consumables, equipment, and supplies;
4. Imported live animals, perishable food, and items requiring storage at specific temperatures.

The second level is one that the head of tax administration authorizes an international customs checkpoint to issue. According to Article 2 of the decision, it applies to: imported exhibition goods and distribution goods; imported equipment, repair tools, and exploration supplies.

As for products not on the above lists, according to Article 3 of the decision, they shall be reviewed by the customs department in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. In other words, not all goods can take this route; you must first match them to the categories.

Don't Celebrate Too Early: Inspection Is Still Required Before Release

"Picking up goods first" does not mean "exemption from inspection and declaration." Article 4 of the decision states very clearly: imported goods and items shall not be released from warehouses or customs offices before receiving the customs notice referred to in Articles 1 and 2; before taking action, imported goods must be inspected by the relevant departments and must comply with Article 27 of the Customs Law No. 04/NA promulgated on December 20, 2011.

At the same time, customs officers at checkpoints shall complete tax and fee payments within the time frame prescribed by laws and regulations, summarize them monthly, and report them to the regional customs office and the Customs Department.

In other words, this is a "green channel" opened for specific scenarios, not a "back door" for everyone. To pass through smoothly, none of the materials, qualifications, or inspection steps can be omitted.

Practical Impact on You

For enterprises doing physical investment, running factories, or engaging in medical or cold-chain trade in Laos, the greatest value of this decision lies in this: it writes the matter of "urgency" into the system. As long as your goods fall under the circumstances listed in Articles 1 and 2, and you can provide the corresponding verification or proof, you have the opportunity to withdraw the goods before the detailed customs declaration is completed, avoiding production line shutdowns and goods spoilage.

If you are not sure whether your goods count as "urgently needed raw materials," or you do not know which department to contact for verification, rather than waiting idly at the port, it is better to clarify the rules first.

This article was compiled by 老法智 LaoPaniti and is for reference only; it does not constitute legal advice.

👉 Have specific goods and want to determine whether they can be "picked up first and declared later"? Go to https://www.123laoai.com to ask AI for free, explain the situation clearly, and let AI help you sort it out against the provisions.

FAQ

My factory urgently needs a batch of raw materials. Can they be picked up directly from the customs port?

It depends. According to Article 1 of the decision, raw materials and equipment urgently needed for use by import investment enterprises, provided that the enterprise has been verified by the central or local planning and investment department, are among the circumstances in which the head of an international customs checkpoint may review and issue Form IM8. However, before release, they must still be inspected by the relevant departments and comply with the relevant provisions of the Customs Law.

Can perishable goods such as fresh produce and live animals be picked up first without waiting for detailed customs declaration?

According to Article 1 of the decision, imported live animals, perishable food, and items requiring storage at specific temperatures are among the circumstances in which an application may be made to withdraw goods before detailed customs declaration. However, they likewise must not be released before receiving the customs notice, and must be inspected and have taxes and fees paid in accordance with the law.

Can ordinary goods not on the list also apply for early pickup?

According to Article 3 of the decision, for products not listed in Articles 1 and 2, the customs department shall review them in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. In other words, they are not all prohibited, but the customs department needs to make a case-by-case judgment in accordance with relevant provisions.

Legal basis

需要人办？相关服务在线提交 · ບໍລິການທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ · Get it done

商业经营合规顾问

围绕经营事项梳理公司、用工、税费、合同收款、商标保护和门店合规风险，形成可跟进的服务清单。

在线提交需求 · ສົ່ງຄຳຂໍອອນລາຍ →

居民民事服务协助ຊ່ວຍບໍລິການເອກະສານພົນລະເມືອງ

协助梳理事项、材料清单、表格路径和服务点承接。