Famous Certification in Laos

The Famous Certification in Laos

Lao People’s Democratic Republic does not have its own standards organization but does act as a correspondent member in The International Organization of Standardization (iso.org) and participates in standards establishment. On 21 December 2011, the Ministry of Science and Technology formed the Department of Standardization and Metrology (DOSM), to act as the country’s primary authority in the fields of standardization, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment, and associated activities. Its mission is to support LAO innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology to contribute to the country’s economic development while also improving the health, safety, environment, and standard of living of the Lao people.

According to the ISO Survey (2020), the most widely ISO Certificates used by the major sectors in Laos are ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. There are a total of 54 certified organizations that have implemented ISO 9001 (Quality Management System). The key major sectors are food products, beverages, and tobacco, wholesale, retail trade, transportation and telecommunication.

Next, another ISO certificate adopted by the major sectors in Laos is ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System), of which there are a total of 14 certified organizations. The main industries are Food products, beverages, and tobacco, Mining and quarrying, Electricity supply, Construction, and Transportation.

Thirdly, the ISO Certificate that was adopted by some of the sectors in Laos is ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System), of which there is a total of 8 certified organizations. The certified companies are from Mining and quarrying, Electricity supply, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade, and Transportation.

Besides, another certification that is famous in Laos are food related certificates – HACCP, GMP or ISO 22000. All the imports of food and food products, importers must have a food quality certificate issued by the exporting country, such as a Free sale Certificate, GHP, GMP, HACCP, ISO 22000 or other certification to apply for an import permit from the Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health or the Department of Public Health. The imported food manufactured or produced under GMP or GHP and are HACCP certified, one in every ten consignments for high-risk food, one in every fifteen consignments for medium-risk food and one in every twenty consignments shall be randomly inspected. While domestic food businesses shall be approved by the Ministry of Public Health prior to operating a food business that shall follow the HACCP system supporting the use of GHP and GMPs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Laos has a potential market for ISO Certificates adoption in the future. In fact, there are currently no accreditation certification bodies in Laos (Atlassian Confluence Community License 2021). However, DOSM is dedicated to overcoming the technical obstacles of establishing a national quality infrastructure based on international standards and conformity assessment procedures.