The publishing, printing and distribution sectors in Laos are managed by the Department of Publishing, Printing, Distribution and Libraries of the Ministry of Information and Culture. The Department comprises four offices: (i) the Publishing and Book Distribution Management Office; (ii) the Printing Management and Development Office; (iii) the Library Management and Reading Promotion Office; and (iv) the Culture and Tourism Periodicals and Newspapers Management Office.

The Department’s responsibilities include (i) developing and formulating laws, ordinances and regulations relating to publishing, printing and sign board advertising and monitoring their implementation; (ii) reviewing and issuing permits for books, cassettes, discs and other media to be published in Laos; (iii) reviewing and issuing permits for foreign works to be distributed and sold in Laos; (iv) issuing permits to and monitoring the activities of publishers, printers and related enterprises throughout the country; and (v) encouraging international investment and overseeing import-export activity in the publishing field.

In practice, although the Department is the state licencing body for the setting up of publishing and printing houses, this function is nowadays largely devolved to local authorities.