Standardization law may not be approved

A final round debate on standardization laws did not end up with the law being passed on 25 December 2007 as National Assembly members could not reach agreement.

The NA 4^th ordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature will end today, but it was unclear whether this law will be adopted though the session has one more chance to debate the law.

The long argument involved the establishment of a new national standardization council but did not clarify its precise role and members were concerned that it would make the law difficult to implement.

Chief proponent to the new laws and Vice President of the Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA), Dr Maydom Chanthanasinh, said it was not necessary to write too much detail into the law as the planned to make it clear in further decrees how to implement it.

He believes that his agency would be given the responsibility to draw together officials from relevant sectors to form the new council.

Dr Maydom said the new council would create guidelines and other management measured for the relevant sectors to inspect the standards of goods produced in Laos and imported from other countries.

But some members remained concerned about the funding to establish the new council and requested a clear stipulation of any decree to implement the new standardization law to ensure the benefits of all parties.

However, all NA members agreed to enforce the standards of products that could have a negative impact on people’s health and/or the environment.

NA member for Vientiane, Mr Bounpone Sisoulath, priorities which product standards should be enforced including foods, drugs and factory emissions.

He also said some people already had problems buying food at markets without checking at the date of expiry.

In addition, he said restaurants, health care services and construction equipment all needs to have set quality standards to ensure people’s protection.

The members agreed that imported products needed to meet higher standards than products made within the country, with an aim to protecting local producers.

The members also raised a example of older, substandard vehicles and computers imported into Laos and debated how the new law would deal with them.

NA members raised the issue of some companies advertising that their products exceeded the quality levels required of them and called on relevant sectors to check.

The members also brought up the issue of inaccurate scales and measuring devices in markets where traders have taken advantage of customers for a long time.

Representative of the law drafting sub-committee, Mr Davone Vangvichit congratulated NA members for their contribution to make the law more comprehensive. (Vientiane Times)