The following information has been provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a contribution to this project. It is authorised information provided to the WHO by the relevant government. The project would welcome additional material in the usual FLIP2000 format.
The development of a food safety programme in the Lao P.D.R. is currently underway. The Department of Hygiene within the Ministry of Health has undertaken the initial training of hygiene technicians who will be responsible for promoting safe food practices and other environmental health measures.
The National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology conducts microbiological analyses of food and water and carries out research into the causes of diarrhoeal diseases in children which provides most of the available information on foodborne diseases in the country. The institute also conducts research to determine the extent of aflatoxin contamination and provides certifications for export shipments of coffee and spices.
No legislation exists although a draft food law has been prepared. Food inspections are not conducted by national health authorities. Food processing facilities have only limited quality control programmes. Local markets and restaurants are not routinely inspected.