Legal Document Updates in English (05/2022)

THE APPRAISAL CHARGE FOR GRANT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT IS VND 50 MILLION

This content is defined in the Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTC dated January 11, 2022 of the Ministry of Finance prescribing the rates, collection, remittance, management and use of the appraisal charges for grant of environmental permits by central agencies.

Specifically, the appraisal charge for the grant, re-grant of environmental permits for group-I projects or establishments is VND 50 million/permit. For group-II projects or establishments; or projects or establishments located in the area of 2 or more provincial-level administrative units or located on the sea where the administrative management responsibility of provincial-level People's Committee has not yet been determined, the appraisal charge is VND 45 million/permit.

Besides, the appraisal charge for adjustment of environmental permits is VND 15 million/permit/project/establishment.

Additionally, appraisal charges for the grant, re-grant of environmental permits for projects or establishments that provide hazardous waste treatment services with up to 4 hazardous waste treatment equipment are VND 60 million/project; VND 40 million dong/establishment; with 5 to 10 equipment are VND 65 million/project; VND 50 million/establishment; etc.

This Circular takes effect on January 11, 2022.

CHARGE RATE FOR APPRAISAL OF SURFACE WATER EXPLOITATION AND USE PROJECT
IS UP TO VND 28.8 MILLION/DOSSIER

The Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BTC prescribing the rates, collection, remittance, management and use of charge for exploiting and using the water source by central agencies is issued on January 11, 2022 by the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, the charge rates for appraisal of seawater exploitation and use project with water flow from 100,000 m³/day to less than 500,000 m³/day; from 500,000 m³/day to less than 1,000,000 m³/day; from 1,000,000 m³/day to 2,000,000 m³/day; and over 2,000,000 m³/day are VND 12,800,000/dossier; VND 18,000,000/dossier; VND 23,400,000/dossier and VND 28,800,000/dossier, respectively.

Charge rate for appraisal of dossiers and conditions for large-scale groundwater drilling practice is VND 3,000,000/dossier.

Besides, charge-collecting organizations shall fully remit the collected charge amounts into the state budget.  By the 5^th of every month at the latest, the charge-collecting organization shall deposit the collected charge amount in the previous month to its State Treasury account of charges pending remittance into the state budget.

This Circular takes effect on February 25, 2022.

SUSPEND TEMPORARY IMPORT FOR RE-EXPORT OF SOME GOODS
FROM MARCH 15 TO DECEMBER 31

On January 28, 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issues the Circular No. 03/2022/TT-BCT on the suspension of temporary import for re-export of medical masks, medical gloves and anti-epidemic isolation suits.

Specifically, to suspend the temporary import for re-export of medical masks, medical gloves and anti-epidemic isolation

suits, including the following HS codes: 392602090 – Medical gloves, 40151100 – Medical gloves, 62101090 - Anti-epidemic isolation suits (including clothes, glasses, medical masks, protective helmets, gloves and shoes), etc.

This Circular takes effect from March 15, 2022, through December 31, 2022.

LENDING MONEY TO PLAYERS FOR PLACING BETS SHALL BE FINED UP TO VND 180 MILLION

The Decree No. 137/2021/ND-CP on sanctioning of administrative violations in the business of betting and prize-winning games is issued on December 31, 2021 by the Government.

Specifically, the maximum fine to be imposed on an individual or organization committing an act of administrative violation in business of betting and prize-winning games is VND 100,000,000 or VND 200,000,000, respectively. The statute of limitations for sanctioning an administrative violation in the business of betting and prize-winning games is 01 year.

Accordingly, a fine from VND 130,000,000 to VND 150,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of selling bet tickets to persons not permitted to place bets; a fine from VND 160,000,000 to VND 180,000,000 shall be imposed for the act of lending money to players for placing bets. In addition to the above fines,

violators may also be deprived the right to use the Certificate of eligibility for betting business from 6 to 12 months in case of committing violation for the first time; or from 12 to 24 months, if the violation is committed for the second time or more.

Besides, a fine up to VND 100,000,000 shall be imposed for any of the following acts of violation: Forging bet tickets to receive winnings; Making arrangements to falsify the result of a betting event; Forging the winning result; Modifying or erasing the contents of Certificates of eligibility for betting business, etc.

This Decree takes effect on January 01, 2022.

BUY 21.9 MILLION DOSES OF PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE FOR CHILDREN FROM 5 TO UNDER 12 YEARS OLD

The Resolution No. 14/NQ-CP on the purchase of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged from 5 years to under 12 years is issued by the Government on February 05, 2022.

Specifically, the Government approves the Prime Minister's permission to apply the method of selecting the contractor in special cases specified in Article 26 of the Bidding Law for

the purchase of 21.9 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged from 5 years to under 12 years with conditions under the Government’s Resolution No. 09/NQ-CP dated May 18, 2021, on the purchase of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162).

This Resolution takes effect from the signing date.

HCMC: FULLY VACCINATED PERSON MUST NOT LEAVE
THE PLACE OF RESIDENCE WITHIN 3 DAYS AFTER ENTERING VIETNAM

On December 31, 2021, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issues the Official Dispatch No. 4519/UBND-VX regarding quarantine management supervision procedures applicable to people on entry.

In accordance with this Official Dispatch, people entering Vietnam through the border gate of Tan Son Nhat International Airport who have received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines or have recovered from COVID-19 must self-monitor their health, avoid contacting surrounding people or leaving their places of residence within 3 days after the date of entry.

Those who are unvaccinated or have not received full doses of COVID-19 vaccines shall be quarantined

at the places of residence for 7 days after the date of entry.

Regarding people entering Vietnam through the border gate of Tan Son Nhat International Airport who are under 18 years old, or persons aged 65 years and older, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions (without being monitored or treated at health establishments), they shall be quarantined with their parents/caregivers. Their parents/caregivers must be fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 and sign a commitment to voluntarily quarantine with people on entry after receiving explanations on the infection risks, etc.

THE VALIDITY DURATION OF A PRESS CARD IS 5 YEARS

This noticeable content is prescribed by the Ministry of Information and Communications in the Circular No. 31/2021/TT-BTTTT dated December 31, 2021, detailing and guiding the dossiers and procedures for grant, renewal, re-grant and revocation of press cards.

Accordingly, the validity duration of a press card is 5 years, the Ministry of Information and Communications shall grant a press card with a new validity duration on January 01 of the year in which the new validity duration begins. The validity duration of the current press card starts from January 01, 2021.

Besides, the heads of concerned agencies, units in applying for the grant, change, re-grant of a press card shall take responsibility before the law for the accuracy and legitimacy of documents, papers and the content of the confirmation

information in the dossiers within the ambit of competence of such agencies; ensure that subjects meet the conditions, criteria, and conduct press activities in accordance with the content declared in the dossiers.

Agencies requesting the grant, renewal and re-grant of press cards shall send the dossiers on the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Information and Communications. In case of ineligibility for submitting the dossier on the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Information and Communications, agencies requesting the grant, renewal, re-grant of press cards shall send the dossiers directly or by post to the Authority of Press or the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.

This Circular takes effect on February 15, 2022.