Ordinance/Guidance No. 252/MOH on the implementation of Prime-Minister Decree No. 155/PM on Pharmaceutical Natural resource

LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC PEACE INDEPENDENT DEMOCRACY UNITY PROSPERITY Ministry of Health No. 252 /MOH Vientiane Capital, date 6th June 2007 Ordinance/Guidance on the implementation of Prime-minister decree on Pharmaceutical Natural resource No. 155/PM, dated 30th September 2003 To: Directors of Public Health office in the Provinces and Vientiane capital To implement the Drug and Medical Products Law no 01/NA, dated 08th April 2000, the decree on medicinal natural resources no 155/PM, dated 30th September 2003 and Prime minister decree on the adoption of the national forestry management meeting held on 01st March 2007 no. 25/PM, dated 03rd April 2007. From the monitoring, gathering of circumstances, and reporting from local authorities it is found that an exploration of medicinal natural resources nation-wide is unorganized, not in line with technical requirements for the exploration, and the semi-production is inefficient. Most explorers are irresponsible with no concern about environmental protection and there is a trend towards extinction of many medicinal plants’ species. Referring to the notification of Prime Minister Cabinet Office no 049/OPM, dated 27th January 2006. Therefore, the Minister of Health hereby issues an ordinance/guidance as follows: 1. Provincial and Vientiane Capital Health Offices shall cooperate with Provincial agriculture forestry Offices, Industry and Commerce Offices and local authorities at each level to pay attention to disseminating and implementing, monitoring, inspecting and evaluating the implementation of the decree no 155/PM, dated 30th September 2003 on natural resources for medicines strictly. Furthermore, the list of the medicinal natural resource shall be disseminated to ensure standardisation in its implementation nation-wide. It is to focus on increasing economic efficiency as well as protecting the national medicinal natural resources for future sustainability. 2. The management of medicinal natural resources shall be implemented according to Article 10 of the decree no 155/PM, dated 30th September 2003 on the medicinal natural resources. 3. The provincial and Vientiane Capital public health offices shall cooperate with Provincial agriculture-forestry Offices in conducting a survey, registering a controlled and utilized list by clearly separating the list of medicinal natural resources from non-forestry products with reference to the decree no 155/PM, dated 30th September 2003, an agreement of Prime Minister no 25 /PM, dated 03rd April 2007 and shall coordinate in controlling, processing, producing and utilising effectively in their own local areas. 4. It is prohibited to extract medicinal natural resources for direct export in a scattered manner. These shall be treated as semi-processed products or finished products in country before distributing or exporting. 5. Establishment of traditional medicine factories or factories for plant extraction, medicinal trees in crafted or industrial form shall be approved by the Ministry of Health. 6. Before being permitted to extract medicinal natural resources, an applicant shall develop a plan for plantation or breeding for their replacement at the time of submission. 7. Extraction of medicinal natural resources shall be considered and approved by the Ministry of Health. 8. All provincial and Vientiane Capital Health offices and other related agencies shall acknowledge and strictly implement this ordinance/guidance. This ordinance/guidance shall be effective form the date of signature Minister of Health (Signed and sealed) Dr Ponemake DALALOY