Laws of Bhutan

Public law and official guidance, published as research. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

All laws Agreements

Agriculture Energy Freight & Shipping Base Metals Precious Metals Critical & Battery Minerals Softs

191 laws on this page

A Roadmap and Strategy for Strengthening Climate Change Research in Bhutan (2021-2025)

policy · Made 2020-11

Alternative Renewable Energy Policy 2013

policy · Made 2013-04-08

Anti-Corruption Act of Bhutan 2006

Act · Made 2006

Repealed

Anti-Corruption Act of Bhutan 2011

Act · Made 2011-05-30

Bhutan 2020: A Vision for Peace, Prosperity, and Happiness

policy · Made 1998

Bhutan Building Regulation 2018

Regulation · Made 2018-04

Bhutan Building Rules, 2002

Regulation · Made 2002

Bhutan Drinking Water Quality Standard, 2016

Other · Made 2016-03-08

Bhutan E-RNR Masterplan

policy · Made 2016-05

Bhutan Electricity Authority - Accounting and Reporting Regulations, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Bhutan Electricity Authority - Regulatory Fees Regulations, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Bhutan Electricity Authority - Safety Regulation, 2008

Regulation · Made 2008

Bhutan Electricity Authority - Tariff Determination Regulation, 2007

Regulation · Made 2007

Bhutan Fishing (Amendment) Rules, 1992

Regulation · Made 1992-11

Bhutan Fishing Rules, 1974

Regulation · Made 1974-01-01

Bhutan Forest Act of 1969

Act · Made 1969

Repealed

Bhutan Medicines Rules and Regulation 2019

Regulation · Made 2019

Bhutan Micro Trade Regulation, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Bhutan National Adaptation Programme of Action

policy · Made 2006

Bhutan National Strategy and Action Plan for Low Carbon Development

policy · Made 2012

Bhutan Retail Trade Regulation, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Bhutan’s Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategy (LTS)

policy · Made 2023

Bhutan Standards Act 2010

Act · Made 2010-07-07

Bhutan Sustainable Hydropower Development Policy 2008

policy · Made 2008-06-26

Bhutan Sustainable Hydropower Development Policy 2021

policy · Made 2021

Bhutan Water Policy, 2007

policy · Made 2007

Bhutan Water Policy 2025

policy · Made 2014

Bhutan Water Vision 2025

policy · Made 2014

Bhutan Wholesale Trade Regulation, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Biodiversity Act, 2003

Act · Made 2003

Repealed

Biodiversity Act of Bhutan, 2022

Act · Made 2022

Biodiversity Action Plan 2009

policy · Made 2009

Biodiversity Action Plan for Bhutan

policy · Made 1997

Biodiversity Action Plan for Bhutan 2002

policy · Made 2002

Biodiversity Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2023

Regulation · Made 2023

Biosafety Act of Bhutan 2015

Act · Made 2015-05-12

Biosafety Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2018

Regulation · Made 2018-03-08

Biosecurity Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2010

policy · Made 2010

Carbon Markets Rules for the Kingdom of Bhutan 2023

policy · Made 2023

Centenary Farmers Market Management Rules and Regulations, 2009

Regulation · Made 2009

Civil Society Organizations Act of Bhutan, 2007

Act · Made 2007-06-20

Climate Change Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2020

policy · Made 2020

Community Forest Rules, 1993 (Revised Edition)

Regulation · Made 1993

Community Protected Forest Rules, 1990

Regulation · Made 1990

Companies Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2000

Act · Made 2000

Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan

Constitution · Made 2008-07-18

Consumer Protection Act of Bhutan, 2012

Act · Made 2012-01-16

Control of rabies and other zoonoses 1981 (By-law No. 2)

Regulation · Made 1981

Cooperative (Amendment) Act of Bhutan, 2009

Act · Made 2001

Cooperative Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2010

Regulation · Made 2010-07-23

Cooperatives Act, 2001

Act · Made 2001

Cottage and Small Industry Action Plan (2019 to 2023)

policy · Made 2019

Cottage and Small Industry Policy, 2019

policy · Made 2019-07

Customs Act of Bhutan 2017

Act · Made 2017

Customs Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017

Regulation · Made 2017-12-27

Dam Safety Guidelines for Hydropower in Bhutan, 2020 (Rev-2024)

Other · Made 2020-05

Disaster Management Act of Bhutan, 2013

Act · Made 2013-02-27

Disaster Management Rules and Regulation, 2014

Regulation · Made 2014

Disposal of dead animals 1981 (By-law No. 8)

Regulation · Made 1981

Domestic Biogas Implementation Guideline, 2020

Other · Made 2020-05

Economic Contingency Plan

policy · Made 2020

Economic Development Policy (EDP) 2016

policy · Made 2016-12

Electricity Act, 2001

Act · Made 2001-07-26

Elephant Conservation Action Plan for Bhutan 2018-2028

policy · Made 2019

Eleventh Five Year Plan 2013-2018: “Self-reliance and Inclusive Green Socio-economic Development”

policy · Made 2013

Environmental Assessment Act, 2000

Act · Made 2000

Environmental Standards, 2020

Other · Made 2020-06

Food Act, 2005

Act · Made 2005-11-30

Food and Nutrition Security Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2014

policy · Made 2014

Food Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2007

Regulation · Made 2007-07-16

Repealed

Food Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017

Regulation · Made 2017-07-05

Foreign Direct Investment Policy 2019

policy · Made 2002

Foreign Direct Investment Regulations 2019

Regulation · Made 2019

Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 1995

Act · Made 1995-09-01

Repealed

Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 2023

Act · Made 2023

Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations, 2023

Regulation · Made 2023-10-31

Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2017

Regulation · Made 2000

Forest and nature conservation Rules of Bhutan, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Repealed

Forest Fire Rules, 2012

Regulation · Made 2012

Government Order on forest resources utilization

Regulation · Made 1979-09-27

Grid Code Regulation, 2008

Regulation · Made 2008-03-28

Guidelines for Planning and Development of Human Settlements in Urban and Rural Areas of Bhutan to minimise environmental impacts

Other · Made 2013-06

Guidelines for Registration of Cottage Scale Industries 2021

Other · Made 2021

Guidelines on Environmental Restoration Bond, 2025

Other · Made 2025

Hydro-met Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2023

policy · Made 2023

Improvement of cattle and other livestock and poultry 1981 (By-law No. 1)

Regulation · Made 1981

Inheritance Act

Act · Made 1980

Interim Access and Benefit Sharing Policy of Bhutan 2015

policy · Made 2015-09-09

Kingdom of Bhutan Intended Nationally Determined Contribution 2015

policy · Made 2015-09-30

Kingdom of Bhutan Second Nationally Determined Contribution 2021

policy · Made 2021-06

Land Acquisition and Compensation Rules and Regulations, 2022

Regulation · Made 2022

Land Act 1979

Act · Made 1979

Repealed

Land Act of Bhutan 2007

Act · Made 2007-06-27

Land Compensation Rates 2017

Regulation · Made 2017

Land Compensation Rates 2022

Regulation · Made 2022

Land Exchange Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022

Regulation · Made 2022

Land Lease Rules and Regulations 2018

Regulation · Made 2018

Land Pooling & Readjustment Regulation, 2018

Regulation · Made 2018-04

Lease Forest Rules, 1990

Regulation · Made 1990-07-03

Livestock Act of Bhutan 2001

Act · Made 2001-08-25

Livestock Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 1981

Act · Made 1981

Repealed

Livestock (Amendment) Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022

Regulation · Made 2022

Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2008

Regulation · Made 2008

Repealed

Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017

Regulation · Made 2017-05-22

Local Government Act of Bhutan, 2009

Act · Made 2009-09-11

Local Government (Amendment) Act of Bhutan, 2014

Act · Made 2015-02-26

Local Governments Act of Bhutan, 2007

Act · Made 2007-07-31

Repealed

Measures to prevent the introduction of infectious and contagious animal diseases from abroad 1981 (By-law No. 3)

Regulation · Made 1981

Medicines Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2003

Act · Made 2003

Mineral Exploration Guidelines 2023

Other · Made 2023

Mines and Minerals Management Act, 1995

Act · Made 1995

Mines and Minerals Management Regulations, 2022

Regulation · Made 2022

Moveable and Immovable Property Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 1999

Act · Made 1999

Municipal Act, 1999

Act · Made 1999

Repealed

National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2018-2022)

policy · Made 2017-05-09

National Adaptation Plan (NAP) of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2023

policy · Made 2023

National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan

policy · Made 2014

National Biogas Implementation Strategy, 2020

policy · Made 2020-05

National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Policy of Bhutan 2019

policy · Made 2019-11

National Energy Policy 2025

policy · Made 2025-06

National Environment Protection Act, 2007

Act · Made 2007-06-21

National Environment Strategy (NES) 2020-2030

policy · Made 2020

National Forest Policy of Bhutan 2009

policy · Made 2009-09

National Framework for Organic Farming in Bhutan, 2006

policy · Made 2006-08

National Gender Equality Policy (NGEP) 2020

policy · Made 2020

National Health Policy

policy · Made 2011

National Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (NWIRMP)

policy · Made 2016-03-10

National Irrigation Master Plan

policy · Made 2016-03

National Irrigation Policy (Revised 2012)

policy · Made 0000

National Nutrition Strategy and Action Plan (2021-2025)

policy · Made 2021

National Plan of Action for Gender 2008-2013

policy · Made 2008

National REDD+ Strategy and Action Plan (2020)

policy · Made 2020

National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy

policy · Made 2017-10-23

National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, 2020

policy · Made 2020-02-04

National Strategy for Community Forestry. The Way Ahead

policy · Made 2010-05

National Waste Management Strategy 2019

policy · Made 2019-06-02

Natural Resources Pricing Guideline, 2023

Other · Made 2023-03-07

Notification and control of transmissible diseases of livestock and poultry 1981 (By-law No. 4)

Regulation · Made 1981

Notification on the procedures of forest settlement in Bhutan

Regulation · Made 1974-09-20

Penal Code (Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2011

Act · Made 2011-05-24

Penal Code of Bhutan 2004

Act · Made 0000

Pesticides Act of Bhutan, 2000

Act · Made 2000-08-14

Pesticides Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2019

Regulation · Made 2019

Plant Quarantine Act of Bhutan

Act · Made 1993-01-01

Plant Quarantine Rules of Bhutan, 2003

Regulation · Made 2003

Private Forestry Rules, 1990

Regulation · Made 1990-07-03

Procedure for felling of trees in the registered lands

Regulation · Made 2012-11-12

Procurement Rules and Regulation 2023

Regulation · Made 2023-07-01

Property Tax Act of Bhutan, 2022

Act · Made 2022

Public Private Partnership Policy (PPP) March 2016

policy · Made 2016-03

Regulation for Environmental Clearance of Projects 2016

Regulation · Made 2016

Regulation for the Environmental Clearance of Projects

Regulation · Made 2001-02

Repealed

Regulation on Strategic Environmental Assessment

Regulation · Made 2001-02

Regulations on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and Hydrofluorocarbons, 2021

Regulation · Made 2021

Renewable Natural Resources (RNR) Strategy 2040

policy · Made 2021-03

Restricted Animal Husbandry Farms 1981 (By-law No. 7)

Regulation · Made 1981

Rules and Regulations for Lease of Government Reserved Forest Land & Government Land

Regulation · Made 0000

Rules on biological corridors, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Rural Construction Rules 2013

Regulation · Made 2013-04

Sanction Order on the Rules and Regulations for the collection of Mipchhi (torch wood)

Regulation · Made 1977-07-03

Seed Rules and Regulations, 2006

Regulation · Made 2006

Repealed

Seed Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2018

Regulation · Made 2018-06

Seeds Act of Bhutan, 2000

Act · Made 2000-08-17

Slaughter and meat inspection 1981 (By-law No. 5)

Regulation · Made 1981

Snow Leopard Conservation Action Plan for Bhutan (2018–2023)

policy · Made 2019

Spatial Planning Standards

Other · Made 2017-06

Strategic Development Plan (2014 -2018)

policy · Made 2014

Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) Under the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) 2017

policy · Made 2017-11

Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2025, Terai Arc Landscape, Nepal

policy · Made 2015

Sudurpashchim Province Tourism Master Plan 2979/80 – 2089/90 BS (2021/22 – 2031/32)

policy · Made 2022-02

Surface Collection Rules and Regulations, 2024

Regulation · Made 2024

Tenancy Act, 2004

Act · Made 2004

Repealed

Tenancy Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2015

Act · Made 2015-05-14

Tenth Five Year Plan 2008-2013

policy · Made 2008

Thimphu Thromde Development Control Regulations, 2016 (DCR, 2016)

Regulation · Made 2014

Thirteenth Five-Year Plan (2024-2029)

policy · Made 2024

Tiger Action Plan for Bhutan (2018-2023)

policy · Made 2021-09-10

Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan, 2010

Act · Made 2010-06-06

Tobacco Control(Amendment) Act of Bhutan 2012

Act · Made 2012-01-19

Tobacco Control (Amendment) Act of Bhutan, 2014

Act · Made 2014-06-17

Tobacco Control Rules and Regulations, 2011

Regulation · Made 2011

Tourism Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan

policy · Made 2019-10-31

Twelfth Five Year Plan - Central Plans

policy · Made 2018

Twelfth Five Year Plan - Main Document

policy · Made 2019-02-02

Veterinary food and commodity inspection 1981 (By-law No. 6)

Regulation · Made 1981

Waste Prevention and Management Act of Bhutan, 2009

Act · Made 2009

Waste Prevention and Management (Amendment) Regulation, 2016

Regulation · Made 2016

Waste Prevention and Management Regulation, 2012

Regulation · Made 2012

Water Act of Bhutan, 2011

Act · Made 2011-05-31

Water Quality Standards, 2018

Other · Made 2018-07-06

Water Regulation of Bhutan 2014

Regulation · Made 2014