RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/NPL/10
21 May 2002
(02-2787)
Working Party on the Accession
of the Kingdom of NepalOriginal:  English
WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF
THE KINGDOM OF NEPAL
Legislative Action Plan
The Government of the Kingdom of Nepal has submitted the attached Legislative Action Plan
with a request that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
_______________WT/ACC/NPL/10
Page 2Legislative Action Plan
(Present Status of Nepal's Law-Ma king Process for WTO Conformity)
No. WTO Agreement Law Status of DraftExpected Approval Date
(Parliament)
1. Marrakesh Agreement
Establishing WTO 1994Instrument of Ratification of WTO
AgreementCouncil of Ministers will consider submitting to the Parliament for
ratification/Accession of or to the WTO Agreement as soon as WTOapproves membership to Nepal.
2. Agreement on the
Application of Sanitaryand Phytosanitary
MeasuresPlant Protection Act 1972, Plant
Protection Regulation  1975
Instrument of International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC)
Seeds Act 1988
(First Amendment)The Act and the Regulation are being reviewed and areas of amendment
are being identified by the Study Group. Necessary amendments will bedrafted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperatives subject to the
availability of technical assistance. Submission of the Draft to the
Council of Ministers is expected within three months of finalization ofthe draft. The draft amendments of the Act shall be submitted by theCouncil of Ministers to the Parliament within six months.
Adopted by the Council of Ministers; awaiting for ratification by the
Parliament.
An amendment bill was submitted to  the Parliament in September 2001.September 2003
*
August 2003
August 2003
3. Agreement on Technical
Barriers to TradeNepal Standards (Certification
Mark) Act 1980;
Weights and Measures Act 1968
Nepal Standards (Certification
Mark) Regulations 1982;Standards Weights and Measures
Rules 1960.Review of the Acts has been under the process. Necessary amendments
will be devised by Nepal Bureau of Standards and Measurement subject
to the availability of technical assist ance. It is expected that the Ministry
of Industry, Commerce and Supplies will finalize the draft and submitto the Council of Ministers within six months from the date of thereceipt of draft subject to the availability of technical assistance forinfrastructure development. It is expected that the Council of Ministerswill submit the amendment proposal to the Parliament within six
months.
Amendments to these Regulation/Rules will be considered by the
Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies which may be submittedto the Council of Ministers after approval of the amendment to the
above Acts by the Parliament.September 2003
*
October 2004
                                                     
* Note: These Expected Approval Dates are s ubject to the availability of Technical Assistance.WT/ACC/NPL/10
Page 3No. WTO Agreement Law Status of DraftExpected Approval Date
(Parliament)
4. Agreement of
Implementation ofArticle VI of the GATT1994 (Anti-dumping)Law on Anti-dumping Measures The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies will prepare a draft
subject to the availability of technical assistance. It is expected that theCouncil of Ministers will submit the proposed bill to the Parliamentwithin six months from the date of completion of draft.September 2003
5. Agreement on
Implementation of
Article VII of GATT1994 (customs valuation)Customs Act 1962;
Customs Regulation 1969Amendments are being drafted by the Department of Customs. The
Ministry of Finance will finalize the draft by September 2002 and
submit to the Council of Ministers in December 2002 subject to theavailability of technical assistance for institutional and human resourcedevelopment. Draft amendment of the Act is expected to be presentedto the Parliament within six months.February 2004
*
6. Agreement on Rules of
OriginCustoms Act 1962;
Customs Regulation 1969Amendments are being drafted by the Department of Customs. The
Ministry of Finance will finalize the draft by September 2002 and
submit to the Council of Ministers in December 2002 subject to the
availability of technical assistance for institutional and human resourcedevelopment. Draft amendment of the Act is expected to be presentedto the Parliament within six months.February 2004
7. Agreement on Import
Licensing ProceduresExport-Import (Control) Act 1957;
Export-Import Regulation 1978Draft of Amendments to the Act and Regulation are being considered
by Department of Commerce. It is expected that Ministry of Industry,Commerce and Supply will finalize by December 2002 subject to the
availability of technical assistance and will be submitted to the Council
of Ministers within three months. Submission of draft amendment ofthe Act to the Parliament is expected within six months from the date offinalization by the Ministry.February 2004
                                                     
* Note: These Expected Approval Dates are s ubject to the availability of Technical Assistance.WT/ACC/NPL/10
Page 4No. WTO Agreement Law Status of DraftExpected Approval Date
(Parliament)
8. General Agreement on
Trade in Services(GATS)Nepal Chartered Accountants
(First Amendment) Act
Health Institutions Operating Act
Foreign Investment and
Technology Transfer Act 1992;Foreign Investment and One
Window Policy 1992;
Industrial Policy 1992
Nepal Bar Council Act 1992;
Industrial Enterprises Act 1992;Labour Act 1991;
Insurance Act, 1992;
Company Act 1997 (amendment);Securities Exchange Act 1982
Bank and Finance Companies ActSubmitted to Parliament in September 2001
Draft of this new enactment is under consideration before the
Parliament.
His Majesty's Government of Nepal (HMG/N) is reviewing these Act
and Policies.
Amendments to these Acts are being considered by concerned
Ministry/Department and submission to the Council of Ministers isexpected by the end of December 2003, and to the Parliament in
June 2004.
Draft of this new enactment is being prepared by Central Bank of
Nepal, submission to the Ministry of Finance is expected by the end of
August 2002. Submission to the Council of Ministers is expected by the
end of December 2002 and to the Parliament by March 2003.August 2002
September 2003
September 2003
October 2004
October 2003WT/ACC/NPL/10
Page 5No. WTO Agreement Law Status of DraftExpected Approval Date
(Parliament)
9. Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects ofIntellectual PropertyRights (TRIPS)Industrial Property (Protection) Act
Copyright Act 1965
Instrument of Ratification of Berne
Convention for the Protection ofLiterary and Artistic Works 1971
Plant Resources Act
Access to Genetic Resources ActDraft of the new Act will be prepared by the Department of Industry
subject to the availability of technical assistance. It is expected thatMinistry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies will finalize the draft byDecember 2003. Submission to Council of Ministers is expected in
June 2004 subject to the availability of technical assistance for
institutional and human resource development and to the Parliament inSeptember 2004.
An amendment bill is under consideration by the Parliament
Government is considering to be a party to it by the end of 2002 and
submission to the Parliament is expected to be in February 2003
A Bill was submitted to Parliament in September 2001
Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation has nearly finalized the draft
of this new Act, submission to Council of Ministers is expected by July2002 and to the Parliament in September 2002.February 2005
*
March 2003
August 2003
March 2003
February 2003
10. General Foreign Exchange (Regulating)
(Second Amendment) Act
Bankruptcy/Insolvency  Act;
Income Tax Act;Environment Act 1997;Pharmaceutical Act, 1978;
Competition Act
Cyber ActDraft of the amendment is under consideration before the Parliament
Amendments to the Acts, and new enactments of Acts are being
considered by line ministries as well as Ministry of Law and Justice;submission to the Council of Ministers is expected in December 2004,and to the Parliament in July 2005.
Interactions and discussions are initiated for the first draft.
It is under consideration of HMG/NOctober 2002
September 2005
September 2005
September 2005
                                                     
* Note: These Expected Approval Dates are subject to the availability of Technical Assistance.WT/ACC/NPL/10
Page 6No. WTO Agreement Law Status of DraftExpected Approval Date
(Parliament)
Instruments of ratifications
United Nations Convention onContracts for the International Saleof Goods (Vienna, 1980).The Government is considering to adopt this Convention and submit to
the Parliament by September 2003:July 2004
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