Decree on Wild Animals, Fisheries, Hunting and Fishing (COM Decree No. 118/CCM, 1989)

Wild Animals, Fisheries, Hunting and Fishing, Decree on (COM Decree No. 118/CCM, 1989) • Based on the resolutions of the 5th, 6th and 7th Plenary Meeting of the Party Central Committee of the IV session, • Based on the resolution of the 1st National Congress on Forestry of May 1989, • Based on the law on the Council of Ministers No. 1/82/CCM of August 20, 1982, • Based on the proposal forwarded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS DECREES: Article 1 Fisheries and wild animals populating the nature in the territory of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic are the property of the national community represented by the state which performs the task of global and uniform management at the national level. The state grants the right and responsibility to all Lao citizen to protect, develop the breed and use the said animal species according to the state regulations and ensuring the development of wildlife population. Article 2 The tasks of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the management of wildlife are: • study strategic plans, policies and legal regulations on the management and use of wildlife and submit them for the Council of Ministers to issue them. • issue elaborate provisions, recommendations and regulations for the implementation of strategic plans, policies and legal regulations pertaining to the management and use of wildlife issued by the Council of Ministers. • organize, direct and control the implementation of strategic plans and regulations, provisions and recommendations on the management and use of wildlife issued by the state. • coordinate with the localities and relevant sectors to propagate and educate the Lao people on care for nature and to assume the responsibility to protect, and use wildlife in conformity to the state regulations. Article 3 Provisions pertaining to hunting and fishing are: • it is forbidden to make use of warfare devices, explosives, poisons, massive exterminating hunting and fishing tools. • it is forbidden to hunt or fish species of wildlife classified as restricted, nearly extinct species, expecting animals, animal’s breeding newly born baby animals and during the season of fish eggs. Article 4 Live wild animals, dead animals, their bodies or parts of their bodies brought to or exported from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic must be accompanied with: • Authorization for removal • Certificate in the animal’s origin • Health certificate of the animal Article 5 All Lao citizen has the right to capture or kill restricted animal species in case such animals are endangering human lives and provided the captured or killed animals become the property of the state. In case restricted animal species cause damages to the livestock, cultivation and others, it must be reported to the local forestry and environment management authorities and provided with an adequate solution. Article 6 Any collectivity or individual offending this Decree will be warned, fined and leave their property confiscated. Serious cases will be sentenced by the court according to the law. Article 7 The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is entrusted to formulate provisions, recommendations and elaborate regulations for the implementation of this Decree. Article 8 Ministers, heads of simile organizations, chairmen of provincial and prefectural administrative committees have the task to organize this Decree’s strict implementation. Article 9 This Decree takes effect from the day of its signature. Provisions, regulations, instructions formerly issued but contrary to this Decree’s content are considered as superceded. Vientiane, 5 October 1989 Chairman of the Council of Ministers (signed and sealed) Kaysone Phomvihane