The Lao Government recently issued a Prime Ministerial decree which is called, "Signboard" ("Decree"). The Decree stipulates the criteria for standardized signs and advertising boards, as well as measures to regulate the sector, including sign writing businesses. Signs or advertising boards that fail to meet the set criteria must be rectified to comply with the Decree. Under the new criteria, Laotian language must be used as the main language in signs and advertisement boards, and it must have the largest font size. Foreign languages are allowed to be used in signs and advertisement boards, but the letters of these foreign languages must be smaller, i.e. not exceeding two thirds the size of the Lao letters. These criteria are waived for official signs displayed by international organisations such as foreign embassies or representative offices in Laos.
The owners of businesses wishing to install signs and advertising boards are required to obtain approval of the Information, Culture and Tourism sector for the contents of the signs and advertisement boards. They must also seek the approval of the Public Works and Transport sector, the government sector responsible for approving the location of signs and advertisements, and for ensuring that the signs and advertisements meet safety standards.
The Decree came into operation on 29 January 2016.