HANOI, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Laotian government will impose stricter inspections on agricultural imports to ensure agricultural crops in Laos be protected from diseases and pests, the Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported on Thursday.

    The new law, consisting of nine parts and 69 articles, aims to regulate customs procedures, offer guidance on the development of quarantine practices, and educate the public about the risks associated with agricultural pests and diseases, according to the newspaper.

    It also aims to protect the agricultural sector by minimizing the risk that foreign pests and diseases enter the country and destroy local crops.

    Latsanivong Amarathithada, a member of the law drafting sub-committee, said the new law would formalize the current activities of authorities and encourage them to closely scrutinize agricultural imports and exports.
 

    Lao officials currently follow a decree issued in 1993 to manage agricultural imports and exports. But these regulations are not comprehensive and do not match recent socio-economic development in the country.