FAOLEX Database

Sao Tome and Principe - Country Profiles

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tomé and Principe.
Date of text: 05 November 1975 (25 January 2003)

Policies

São Tomé and Príncipe's Nationally Determined Contribution NDC 3.0, 2025.
Date of text: 01 September 2025
Fisheries Management Plan (PGP) 2025–2029.
Date of text: 03 April 2025
National Strategic Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture (PENPA) 2025-2034.
Date of text: 03 April 2025
Resolution No. 39/2024 approving the National Strategy for Entrepreneurship in São Tomé and Príncipe, 2024-2030.
Date of text: 05 December 2024
Law No. 05/2023 establishing the Great Options of the Plan for the Economic Year 2023.
Date of text: 16 June 2023

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

Decree-Law No. 12/2025 creating the Family Farming Support Fund.
Date of text: 16 September 2025
Law No. 14/2022 on the Legislative Authorization for the Government to legislate on Measures to be adopted to encourage local production.
Date of text: 25 October 2022
Decree-Law No. 18/2022 creating the Competence Centre for the Family and Sustainable Agriculture of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries.
Date of text: 14 July 2022
Law No. 5/2022 against Theft on Agricultural Plots.
Date of text: 09 February 2022
Decree-Law No. 32/78 on the expropriation of some agricultural properties.
Date of text: 24 October 1978

Climate change

Decree-Law No. 04/2025 creating the Climate and Environmental Fund of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Date of text: 17 July 2025
Presidential Decree No. 9/2008 ratifying the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Date of text: 31 March 2008

Cultivated plants

Decree-Law No. 5/2016 approving the Plant Health Framework Act.
Date of text: 30 May 2016
Decree No. 40/99 prohibiting plant trade without a phytosanitary certification.
Date of text: 03 August 1999
Order No. 22.686 establishing the classification of different varieties of corn to be exported.
Date of text: 19 May 1967
Resolution No. 89/XI/2020 ratifying the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Plant Varieties.
Date of text: 09 September 2020

Disaster risk management

Presidential Decree No. 3/2020 on the Declaration of Public Health State of Emergency.
Date of text: 17 March 2020 (17 April 2020)
Decree-Law No. 17/2011 approving the Statute of the National Council for Disaster Preparedness (CONPREC).
Date of text: 24 May 2011

Environment

Environmental Law No. 10/99.
Date of text: 15 April 1999
Law No. 4/2022 against Noise Pollution.
Date of text: 15 February 2022
Law No. 9/2020 approving the Legal Regime for the Exploration and Extraction of Aggregates.
Date of text: 22 September 2020
Law No. 8/2020 approving Measures to Reduce the Use of Plastic Bags in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Date of text: 21 September 2020
Decree-Law No. 64/2013 repealing Decree-Law No. 14/2003 and creating the Environmental Impact Tax (TIA).
Date of text: 31 December 2013

Fisheries and aquaculture

Law No. 9/2022 on Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Date of text: 16 May 2022 (19 December 2025)
Council Regulation (EC) No. 894/2007 on the conclusion of a Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the European Community.
Date of text: 23 July 2007
Council Decision 2006/83/EC on the signing on behalf of the European Community and provisional application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters extending the Protocol setting out, for the period from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2006, the fishing opportunities and financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe on fishing off the coast of Sao Tome and Principe.
Date of text: 30 January 2006
Council Regulation (EC) No. 428/2000 on the conclusion of the Protocol setting out for the period 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2002 the fishing opportunities and the financial contribution provided for in the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome e Principe of fishing off the coast of Sao Tome e Principe.
Date of text: 14 February 2000
Decree-Law No. 513/71 establishing that fishing vessels performing their activity near to the coastal zone may use logistic facilities on land.
Date of text: 22 November 1971

Food and nutrition

Law No. 01/2023 on the Basic Law of the National School Feeding and Health Programme (PNASE).
Date of text: 15 November 2022
Law No. 7/2020 on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes.
Date of text: 21 September 2020
Decree-Law No. 19/2011 approving the hygiene and sanitary measures for any food stuff destined to be put on the market.
Date of text: 10 June 2011
Decree-Law No. 55/96 establishing measures for the prevention and control of salt quality for human and animal consumption.
Date of text: 19 August 1986
Decree No. 176/70 regulating spirit production and trade into the Overseas Provinces.
Date of text: 03 April 1970

Forestry

Forestry Law No. 5/2001.
Date of text: 12 September 2001
Decree-Law No. 21/2009 establishing licensing requirements for forest wood imports.
Date of text: 13 August 2009
Decree No. 48.198 establishing the Statute of Overseas Services for Agriculture and Forests.
Date of text: 11 January 1968

Gender

Equality Law No. 11/2022.
Date of text: 19 September 2022
Decree-Law No. 18/2007 creating the Institution for Gender Equity and Equality (INPG).
Date of text: 28 August 2007
Resolution No. 74/VIII/2009 on Measures to Strengthen Women's Civic and Political Participation.
Date of text: 22 September 2009
Decree-Law No. 23/2014 amending and reprinting the Statute of the National Institution for Promotion and Equity of Gender (INPG).
Date of text: 31 December 2015

Land and soil

Decree-Law No. 07/2020 creating the Statute of the National Institute of Public Works and Urbanism (INOPU).
Date of text: 09 March 2021
Law no. 5/2007 approving the Regulation on Property Transfer Tax (SISA).
Date of text: 2007
Law No. 8/2003 on crimes against property.
Date of text: 14 August 2003
Law No. 3/91 on Land Tenure.
Date of text: 28 June 1991 (15 April 1999)
Decree-Law No. 34/88 on the detachment of dependencies pertaining to some companies.
Date of text: 10 September 1988

Livestock

Law No. 13/2005 approving the Animal Health Basic Legislation.
Date of text: 30 December 2005
Decree-Law No. 7/2019 approving the Regulation on the Provision of Public and Private Veterinary Services.
Date of text: 15 August 2020
Decree-Law No. 06/2019 on the Regulation and Procedures, for Marketing of Live Animals and their Products and Derivatives.
Date of text: 14 August 2019
Decree-Law No. 23/2015 regulating the offence and penalty regime applicable to animal imports.
Date of text: 2015
Decree-Law No. 55/96 establishing measures for the prevention and control of salt quality for human and animal consumption.
Date of text: 19 August 1986

Mineral resources and energy

Framework Law No. 16/2009 on Petroleum Operations.
Date of text: 31 December 2009
Law No. 8/2004 on oil resources.
Date of text: 30 December 2004
Law No. 9/2020 approving the Legal Regime for the Exploration and Extraction of Aggregates.
Date of text: 22 September 2020
Decree-Law No. 1/2020 approving the Regulation on the Special and Transitional Regime for Energy Acquisition from Renewable Sources.
Date of text: 17 December 2019
Decree-Law No. 7/2014 approving the Statute of the National Petroleum Agency of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Date of text: 25 April 2014

Sea

Law No. 13/2007 establishing the Basic Law on Maritime Safety and Prevention of Marine Pollution.
Date of text: 11 September 2007
Decree-Law No. 4/2018 creating the National Maritime Authority.
Date of text: 08 February 2018
Decree-Law No. 3/2018 approving the Maritime Authority System (SAM).
Date of text: 08 February 2018
Decree-Law No. 4/2010 establishing legal measures and competent authorities for the implementation of the International Code of Vessels' and Harbours' protection.
Date of text: 27 May 2010
Decree-Law No. 57/2009 organizing the Exclusive Economic Zone in blocks for oil exploitation.
Date of text: 31 December 2009

Social protection

Law No. 7/04 approving the Social Protection Framework.
Date of text: 14 June 2004
Decree No. 15/2017 creating the National Council for Social Protection.
Date of text: 18 August 2017

Water

Water Resources Framework Law No. 07/2018.
Date of text: 26 April 2018
Resolution No. 05/2021 authorizing the construction of the Water Supply System for the Communities in the Southern Zone of the Autonomous Region of Príncipe.
Date of text: 19 February 2021
Order on the Statute of the Public Company for Water and Electricity (EMAE).
Date of text: 13 November 2008
Statute of the Public Company for Water and Electricity –EMAE.
Date of text: 19 December 2006

Wild species and ecosystems

Decree-Law No. 01/2016 approving the Hunting Regulation.
Date of text: 11 March 2016
Law No. 4/2003 on Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Date of text: 02 June 2003
Law No. 11/99 on Flora and Fauna conservation and protected areas.
Date of text: 15 April 1999
Decree-Law No. 03/2026 on the Network of Marine Protected Areas of São Tomé.
Date of text: 27 February 2026
Decree-Law No. 02/2026 on the National Network of Marine Protected Areas of São Tomé e Príncipe.
Date of text: 26 February 2026

Miscellaneous

Law No. 6/2012 approving the Penal Code.
Date of text: 06 August 2012 (10 August 2021)
Law No. 09/2017 on Consumer Protection.
Date of text: 27 June 2017
Health Basic Law No. 09/2018.
Date of text: 06 June 2018
Law No. 03/2025 on the Central Bank of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Date of text: 22 May 2025
Decree-Law No. 09/2021 creating Checkpoints for the Transport and Circulation of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Products.
Date of text: 18 March 2021

International Agreements

African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Revised version).
Date of text: 11 July 2003
African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
Date of text: 11 July 2003
Decree No. 50/2025 approving the Convention on Social Security between the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe and the Portuguese Republic.
Date of text: 28 November 2025

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