Critical and Emerging Technologies in South-East Asia

Note: Lao People's Democratic Republic currently has no independent standards organisations. In 2011, the Department of Standards and Metrology was established as an independent department alongside the Department of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology.  However, MOIC currently supervises these departments as Ministry of Science and Technology was dissolved.  In 2014, Laos passed the Law on Standards and USAID’s LUNA Lao II project seeks to assist the Lao in implementing regulations for the law. 
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The Department of Standardization and Metrology (DOSM) is a Governmental body under the Ministry of Science and Technology, established by Ministerial Decree #0836 /MST on 21 December 2011.

DOSM is the country's leading authority in the area of standardization, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment and related activities. In addition to supporting these highly technical specific activities, DOSM's mission is to provide a host of credible technical services that support LAO innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that will contribute to the economic development of the country, improving the health, safety, environment and the standard of living of the Lao people. DOSM, as a service provider, will be guiding and creating awareness among the public and private sector of the value the National Quality Infrastructure as a tool to facilitate trade and economic growth.

DOSM is committed to tackling the technical challenges of developing a national quality infrastructure that is based on international standards and conformity assessment procedures. DOSM plans to promote the adoption and implementation of these international standards in order to take advantage of export opportunities within ASEAN countries in the short and medium term, WTO Member countries in the long-term and supporting domestic industry.