Annex III

Draft Decree on Travelers and Baggage Allowances

1. Obligation of Travelers.

Any traveler on arrival from a foreign territory, at the International Airport of Wattay and Luang Prabang or any other highway or river post shall be liable to declare to Customs all goods he has in his baggage, and to open, unpack or repack any packages as shall be required by Customs.

A written declaration for goods carried by travelers shall be made on the travelers declaration form.

2. Travelers arriving by air.

a) Any traveler arriving at the International Airport of Wattay and Luang Prabang shall leave the through a green or red channel.

b) A green channel in an international airport is a channel or area for use by inbound travelers who have no goods liable to tax or prohibited or restricted goods.

c) A red channel in an international airport is a channel or area for use by inbound travelers who have in their possession goods liable to duty and taxes or prohibited or restricted goods.

d) Each channel shall be clearly and distinctively marked so that the choice between the red and green channels can be easily made by travelers.

e) Any traveler who enters the green channel shall be deemed to have declared that he has no goods to declare nor restricted or prohibited goods.

f) Any traveler who enters the green channel and is found, after a check, to be in possession of any undeclared, restricted or prohibited goods shall commit an offence and the goods shall be liable to seizure.

3. Travelers arriving by highway or river

Travelers arriving from a foreign territory by highway or river shall land at places designated by the Director-General of Customs.

The baggage or goods landed by a traveler shall be removed from the designated place after they have been cleared by Customs and after any liable duty or tax has been paid.

The hours of business of such offices shall be specified by the Director-General during which travelers may enter or leave Lao PDR.

4. Any traveler arriving at an international airport, excluding a crew member or a passenger above the age of 16, shall be allowed to import free of import duties and taxes the following goods, in addition to necessary wearing apparel and personal effects including personal jewelry:

a. 1 liters of sprits and 2 liters of wine

b. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco

c. ¼ liter of toilet water and 50 grams of perfume

d. Used hand carried equipment and tools for the professional use of a traveler.

e. One used camera or video camera with 10 rolls of film

f. One used cine-camera

g. One used audio-cassette recorder

h. One used radio receiver

i. Used articles for sport and a camping tent with accessories.

j. One used perambulator.

Duty or tax exemption shall not be extended to arms and ammunition, furniture, motor vehicles and motorcycles.

In addition, any traveler importing goods of a strictly non-commercial nature up to a value of USD 50 shall be exempted from payment of duty and taxes.

Travelers, including truck drivers in international transport, who cross the border frequently shall not be allowed the allowances as above.

5. A traveler may be allowed to pay duty on a portion only of the dutiable goods in his baggage provided that any goods not cleared shall be left in the customs warehouse and cleared only when all duties and taxes have been paid. A receipt note shall be issued to the traveler whenever his goods shall be left in a customs warehouse which shall be removed not later than 15 days after receipt.

6. Unaccompanied baggage of a traveler, but not manifested, and covered by his declaration shall be dealt in the same manner as baggage accompanying a traveler. However, proof may be required to the effect that the person concern is a traveler.

A complete written goods declaration shall be made for goods which constitute an importation or exportation of a commercial nature and which exceed in value and in quantity the limits laid down in this decree. However, a traveler may declare goods for re-exportation for which a receipt shall be issued. In such cases, re-exportation shall be allowed by the customs officer in charge of the International Airport.