Laos’ Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) has added to the list of goods subject to the country’s recently imposed import-export registration requirement. Traders who import or export goods on the expanded list, which was issued in MOIC Notification No. 1941 on September 18, 2023, must first obtain a certificate authorizing their import or export activities. The six additional categories of goods specified by the notification, along with the corresponding Harmonized System (HS) codes from the World Customs Organization, are: Mining – HS 2601–2611, 2613–2617 Electricity – HS 27160000 Wood and wood products – HS 4401–4421, 4701–4707, 4801–4812, 94 Spare parts and electronic equipment, electrical equipment – HS 8501–8548 Cigarettes – HS 240220 Alcoholic beverages – 2203–2206, 2208 Enterprises that import or export these goods must complete registration with the MOIC’s Department of Import and Export (DIMEX) by October 31, 2023. Enterprises not registered with DIMEX will be prohibited from importing or exporting these goods. Importers and exporters of other goods not covered by this list may also register, with the option of registering until any future changes to the import-export registration requirements dictate otherwise. Registrants must also seek Bank of Lao PDR certification of their commercial bank accounts. Following this, they must ask the relevant commercial bank to convert their account to an import-export account. For more details on Laos’ new import-export registration rules, or on any aspect of trade involving Laos, please contact Tilleke & Gibbins at [email protected].

Attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins have prepared the Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand sections of the recently released Global Merger Notification Guide from Lex Mundi. The guide provides answers to key questions related to the merger notification requirements in jurisdictions of Lex Mundi member firms in 57 jurisdictions around the world. Each country-specific section contains in-depth information on the jurisdiction’s legal framework governing merger notifications, addressing the following questions and topics: Regulatory agency for merger notifications Transactions subject to national rules Timeline for filing merger notifications Merger review process Sanctions for not fulfilling merger notification requirements Remedial options for addressing the regulator’s competition concerns Current regulatory outlook and other notable information The guide draws on the expertise of Lex Mundi member firms from around the world. Its innovative format allows users to compare current information from multiple jurisdictions in a side-by-side, customizable report. To browse the contributions, generate country-specific reports, and compare regulatory guidance on merger notification requirements across multiple jurisdictions, please visit the Lex Mundi website.

When your company suffers a data breach, taking prudent, careful action can limit and perhaps even rectify some of the damage. First of all, it is important to document everything, starting with the time the data breach was discovered. Secure the data systems and preserve all evidence so that investigators can determine what happened, and begin following the protocol that all companies handling personal data should have in place to guide their data breach response. It is also crucial to seek timely legal assistance to ensure that every aspect of the response is planned and carried out according to the law. While applicable legal advice for each situation can only be obtained by consulting a legal advisor, this guide gives an overview of what companies in Southeast Asian jurisdictions can expect if they suffer a data breach. This guide from Tilleke & Gibbins is a quick-reference resource covering key regulatory issues regarding data breach responses in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The full guide can be downloaded through the button below.

Laos’ Ministry of Health (MOH) has promulgated a regulation detailing registration and notification protocols for medical devices. Decision on the Registration and Notification of Medical Devices No. 1470/MOH will come into force 60 days after both the signing of the regulation (which already occurred in July) and publication in the Official Gazette, which has not yet been specified by the government. Registration of medical devices in Laos is mentioned in the country’s Law on Drugs and Medical Products No. 07/NA, dated December 21, 2011, but a registration procedure has not been put in place. There was only a separate requirement to furnish certain required documents when importing medical devices. Now, the decision outlines the registration and notification process for medical devices through the Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Department (FDD), in line with the regulatory principles in the ASEAN Medical Device Directive of 2015, which Laos has ratified. Medical Devices in Laos The decision defines medical devices as any instrument, apparatus, implement, machine, appliance, implant, in vitro reagent or calibrator, software, material, or other similar or related article intended for any of the following uses in humans: Diagnosis, prevention, monitoring, recovery from, or alleviation or treatment of a disease; Diagnosis, monitoring, recovery from, or alleviation of or compensation for an injury; Replacement, modification, or support of anatomy or a physiological process; Supporting and sustaining life; Controlling or assisting in conception; or Disinfection and sterilization of tools and medical devices. Medical devices in Laos are given one of four classifications based on their level of risk: Class A – Low risk (e.g., rubber belts, cotton for medical purposes, nonwoven swabs, adhesive bandages) Class B – Low-moderate risk (e.g., neonatal suction equipment, surgical gloves, gastro-catheters) Class C – Moderate-high risk (e.g., endoscopic surgical equipment, anesthesia equipment, peritoneal dialysis equipment) Class