VO NA postpones approval of customs law amendment INTRO: The National Assembly has postponed its approval of the amended draft to the Law on Customs, with NA members commenting on the complication in the amended content of the law. STORY: The Ministry of Finance has brought the amended Articles No. 3, 69, 70, 74, 75, 76, 110 and 111 to the NA's ongoing ordinary session for consideration on Thursday the 24th of July. The articles are about organisational structure, rights and obligations of customs services, which have added the rights and obligations of local administrations in the sector. The focus of the NA debate was on transforming the customs service units for the regions to provincial units and Vientiane, which are stipulated in the Articles No.75, 110 and 111. NA members were divided on the amendments, with pros and cons being voiced for whether the customs service units should remain directly subordinate to the ministry or whether they should also come under provincial authorities. According to the current law, the customs service in Laos is divided into five zones. The third zone, for example, covers Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Savannakhet provinces, while the fourth zone covers the four southern provinces of Saravan, Champassak, Xekong and Attapeu. Members of the public suspect that the Ministry of Finance hardly inspect or investigate dishonest conduct amongst customs officials at various points of the country, with many people claiming ‘all customs officials are rich'. NA member for Vientiane Dr Duangsavath Souphanouving said he was satisfied with the current customs service structure, as the zoning has been maintained smoothly, supported integration purposes and a persistent increase in state revenue had been seen. Dr Duangsavath also recognised the weaknesses and challenges in local authorities managing personnel. Adding that, the strengths should not be affected when addressing the weaknesses of the issue. He suggested that the article be amended in regards to personnel management only. In response to the NA members' comments, Deputy Minister of Finance, Bounchom Oubopaseuth said, on behalf of the law amendment sub-committee, that the aim of the customs service unit zoning was to centralise state revenue due to some provinces not having the potential of generating income. Observing the disagreements between the NA members and the need to push the amendment through, the procedure on drafting and amending laws defined in the Law on Laws has not been met. NA President Pany Yathortou said the enforcement of this law in the future would be difficult. She offered three possible solutions for the amendment: the approval of the law is to be postponed so the concerned ministry is able to conduct a comprehensive study following the NA members' comments, approve the law in line with the ministry's principles and amendments or the NA Standing Committee will be assigned to issue a notice for a trial run in a province before the law is amended.

• published: 28 Jul 2014
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