Ministerial Order No.4459 on Prohibition of Raising or Releasing Alien Aquatic Animals that Impacts to Native Aquatic Species and Water Resource Ecosystem.

This Ministerial Order establishes a strict prohibition on the unauthorized importation, breeding, and release of invasive alien aquatic species into natural water bodies or reservoirs across Laos. The Order aims to protect native biodiversity and local aquatic ecosystems from competition, disease transmission, and genetic degradation caused by non-native species.
The Order mandates that provincial agricultural departments and international veterinary checkpoints collaborate to monitor compliance and educate the public on the environmental risks posed by these invasive organisms. It identifies eleven regulated categories, including the Blackchin Tilapia, Piranha, Amazonian Catfish, and all genetically modified fish species. It outlines enforcement measures such as the seizure, return, or destruction of illegally imported species, while requiring existing owners of these animals to retroactively apply for official permits. Furthermore, the Order provides practical guidance for the general public, instructing citizens to consume or destroy any regulated alien species they catch incidentally, while exempting authorized scientific research institutions from certain restrictions.