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VIENTIANE, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Laos will establish its own FDA-like system on food, drug and beverage quality inspection and quarantine, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed Friday in Lao capital Vientiane.
Acting Director of Department of Standardization and Metrology under Lao Ministry of Science and Technology Viengthong Vongthavilay, Deputy Director of Lao National Accreditation Bureau Souksavath Sihapanya, and Xie Yu, Chairman of Nakhone Sup Group Sole Co., Ltd, a Lao private enterprise, jointly signed the MoU.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Acting Director of Department of Standardization and Metrology Viengthong Vongthavilay said cooperation in the area is of significance in implementing the Resolution of Laos' 10th Party Congress and the socio-economic development plan of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
As Laos is an official member of the World Trade Organization and ASEAN Free Trade Zone, inspection and quarantine work play a decisive role in Laos' integration in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the world, Viengthong said.
Since the end of 2016, Lao Ministry of Science and Technology has assigned the Department of Standardization and Metrology to conduct consultation with Nakhone Sup Group Sole Co., Ltd on Lao food, drug and beverage quality testing and standard certification. The signing of MoU on cooperation will serve as a basis for feasibility study of the project.
For his part, Xie Yu said following the fast economic development, the Lao government is standardizing and improving its legal regulations and strengthening administrative management. The establishment of the agency will promote Laos' overall environment and help attract more international visitors to Laos for investment.
"The agency will become an important landmark in Laos' standardized development," Xie said.
In future work, the company will utilize advanced testing, inspection equipment and technology as well as experienced personnel. A well-equiped testing and inspection system will be set up, Xie told Xinhua, adding that this will provide a strict quality supervision of food, drug and beverage products being imported into Laos and those of Laos being exported to other countries.
This will ensure that the standards of Lao products can catch up with and even surpass international level, thus guaranteeing food safety for people consumption. The new facility will promote the standardized development of Lao food industry, so that products of Laos can become popular in the world, said Xie.
Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara as well as the ministry's deputy ministers also attended the signing ceremony. Enditem
