Decree on the Management, Supervision, and Inspection of the Import, Sale, and Use of Plant Seeds, Fertilizers, and Pesticides

Article

Lao People's Democratic Republic
Peace, Independence, Democracy, Unity, Prosperity

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry No.

Vientiane Capital, 5 May 2005

Order
On Strengthening Rigor
in Management, Monitoring, Inspection
of Import, Distribution
and Use of Plant Varieties, Fertilizers and Pesticides

To: - Director General of the Department of Agriculture;
- Directors of Provincial and Vientiane Capital Agriculture and Forestry Departments;
- Heads of District and Municipal Agriculture and Forestry Offices.

- Pursuant to Decree No. 258/ລບ, dated 24 August 2017, on Pesticide Management;
- Pursuant to Resolution of the National Assembly No. 05/ສພຊ, dated 20 March 2025, on Approval of the Adjustment of the Government Organization Structure;
- Pursuant to the letter of the Department of Agriculture No. 3702/ກປຝ, dated 27 May 2025;
- Pursuant to the letter of the Office No. 0158/ຫກ, dated 11 July 2025.

In the past, the management, monitoring and inspection of the import, distribution and use of plant seeds, fertilizers and pesticides from central to local levels have been centrally and uniformly managed nationwide, especially the document inspection stage, including analysis, research and quality testing before registration. However, despite this, the implementation of such work still involves smuggling, buying and selling unregistered plant seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in markets and retail stores.
Moreover, there is unauthorized online buying and selling, sales of unregistered production inputs and pesticides banned in the Lao PDR, and transportation of fertilizers and pesticides mixed with consumer goods, posing risks of contamination and harm to humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

To address these issues in accordance with laws and regulations, and to enhance responsibility in managing, monitoring, and inspecting the import, distribution, and use of plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides,

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry issues an order:

1. Assign the Department of Agriculture, provincial Agriculture and Forestry Offices, Vientiane Capital Agriculture and Forestry Office, and district Agriculture and Forestry Offices
and environment at district and city levels proactively disseminate the Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine No. 13/NA, dated 15 November 2016, the Decree on Pesticide Management No. 258/PM, dated 24 August 2017, the Decree on Plant Varieties No. 238/PM, dated 18 May 2020, the Agreement on Fertilizer Management in Lao PDR No. 2169/MAF, dated 24 October 2013, and relevant legislation on plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides to relevant officials, staff, entrepreneurs, and the multi-ethnic Lao people for deep and comprehensive understanding, in order to strictly implement together:
The Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, Vientiane Capital, shall issue import permits for plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for use only within their locality. For import permits for plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides intended for distribution covering two or more provinces, and for importation for use within a company's farm or project without commercial purpose, the Department of Agriculture shall issue permits according to the decentralized management. At the same time, many companies should be allowed to produce, import, and distribute plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides in their localities to increase options for farmers, production groups, cooperatives, and business units to use quality and reasonably priced production inputs;
Assign the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Offices, Vientiane Capital to enhance leadership and guidance for plant quarantine officials at checkpoints to perform the following main duties:
1. Inspect documents related to the import of plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, such as import permits, technical registration certificates for plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, which must be within the validity period. In case of expiration, suspend the import, educate the violator, and urgently report to their higher organization.
2. Inspect the import quantity and trade names of plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, which must conform to the quantity specified in the import permit and the invoice;
3). Each import of plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides must randomly sample an appropriate quantity according to technical principles for quality inspection and traceability;

4). Imported plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides must be labeled in Lao and foreign languages. In case of no Lao label, the first time a warning note shall be made, the second time a warning note shall be made along with a fine of fifty percent of the value of the goods, and the third time a warning note shall be made, a fine of one time the value of the goods, and a ban on importing plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides;

5). Export, re-export, and transit of plant varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides must obtain permission from the Department of Agriculture.
Assign the provincial and Vientiane capital agriculture and forestry departments, as well as district and city agriculture and forestry offices, to enhance their initiative in coordinating with relevant sectors to manage, monitor, and inspect plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides within their responsibilities as follows:
1). For transportation or movement of plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides within the country or between provinces, no additional movement permit is required to facilitate the circulation of goods and promote agricultural production as commodities;
2). Coordinate with transport companies and express delivery services to not accept transportation of pesticides mixed with consumer goods and food. In case of violations, a record must be made, education provided, and
Seize immediately and report to their superior organization promptly;

3). Plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides for sale must only be those registered with the Department of Agriculture, and must be labeled in Lao and foreign languages;

4. Distributors of plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides must have a business license for agricultural and forestry activities issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or the Provincial/Capital Agriculture and Forestry Office according to the division of management, authorizing the sale of plant seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides;

5. The Provincial/Capital Agriculture and Forestry Office shall appoint its officials to monitor
Inspect the distribution, advertising, purchase and sale of plant seeds, fertilizers and pesticides that are incorrect. In case of first detection, make a record and educate; second time, make a record, confiscate, destroy and impose a fine of fifty percent of the value of the goods; third time, confiscate, destroy and impose a fine equal to the value of the goods. In case of detection of distribution, use and possession of pesticides that have been banned for use in the Lao PDR, totaling 55 types, such as Paraquat, Methomyl, confiscate the pesticides and impose a fine equal to the value of the pesticides, along with revoking the agricultural and forestry business license and enterprise registration certificate according to the law.

6. The Provincial Agriculture and Environment Office, Vientiane Capital, shall summarize and report on the import,
Wholesale and use of plant varieties, fertilizers and pesticides shall be regularly reported to the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment;

7. Assign the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for promoting, monitoring and inspecting the implementation of this order. Any conveniences or difficulties arising from the implementation of this order shall be reported to the Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in accordance with procedures for timely resolution.

This order shall take effect from the date of signature.

Lin Kham Duangsathavan