Instruction 4266/MAF on the Management of Planning for Harvesting, Trading, Movement, and Export of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)

This Instruction establishes guidelines for the sustainable harvest and management of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Laos. Harvesting is permitted in specific zones, including production forests, forest land conversion areas, and village-use forests, provided they follow approved technical standards and sustainability practices. The document categorizes NTFPs into three lists to determine the level of oversight required. Products in List I require high-level approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, while List II items are managed by provincial authorities. List III products and registered cultivated medicinal plants do not require specific harvesting permits, allowing for seasonal collection by citizens as long as sustainability is maintained.
The regulatory framework emphasizes inter-departmental coordination, particularly between the agricultural and health sectors, to monitor medicinal plants and verify their origins. Quotas for harvesting must be applied for annually and cannot be carried over from previous years. Regarding trade and logistics, companies must prioritize local processing before seeking export permits, which are restricted to non-prohibited species that cannot be processed domestically. Movement of NTFPs across different lists requires specific permits from either provincial or district offices, with additional health department clearance needed for medicinal varieties. The Department of Forestry and Forestry Inspection are tasked with monitoring compliance and ensuring all state obligations are met.