Coordination Meeting: Final meeting on AMLB and MEA draft laws held

The final coordination meeting related to the 2025 Anti-Money Laundering Bill (Draft) and the Myanmar Excise Act (Draft) was held at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Legal Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw on December 30.

At the meeting, after the opening remarks by the Union Minister for Legal Affairs and the Union Attorney General, Dr. Thida Oo, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Ma-J Gen. Aung Kyaw Kyaw explained and discussed that the Anti-Money Laundering Law was drafted to align with changing circumstances and in accordance with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Additionally, he stated that The Myanmar Excise Act was originally enacted in 1917, and a new law is being drafted to align with the evolving conditions. At the meeting, the Union Minister and Union Attorney General Dr. Thida Oo evaluated that the Anti-Money Laundering Law 2025 is a law that should be enacted to align with current conditions, comply with relevant conventions to which Myanmar is a member and the FATF recommendations on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (AML/CFT), and support the state’s rule of law.

Final discussions were held regarding the enactment of the law. Furthermore, the existing Myanmar Excise Act is a law enacted in 1917, which includes provisions on excisable goods, narcotic drugs, excise tax collection, and related matters. Regarding excise tax collection, laws have been enacted in relevant regions or states under Schedule (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Therefore, as the current law is no longer suitable for the present era, final coordination and discussions were conducted for the enactment of a law aimed at modernizing the management of excisable goods, enabling the state to collect due excise revenues, strengthening supervision over the illegal production, distribution, and sale of alcohol, and contributing to the economic development of the country, it’s learnt.