Legal Document Updates in English (27/2021)

NOTICE ON SALE OF BILLS SHALL BE UPLOADED
NO LATER THAN 13:30 ON THE BIDDING DATE

On July 07, 2021, the State Bank of Vietnam issues the Circular No. 09/2021/TT-NHNN amending and supplementing a number of Articles of the Circular No. 42/2015/TT-NHNN dated December 31, 2015 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam prescribing regulations on open-market operations.

Specifically, before each open-market operation-related bidding session, the State Bank (the operation centre) shall notify the purchase or sale of valuable papers for its members. For a session of sale (issuance) of State Bank bills, in addition to notifying its members, the operation centre shall post the notice on sale (issuance) of State Bank bills on

BY 2030, THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE OF
TOTAL RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER GOODS IS 13.0 - 13.5%/YEAR

The Decision No. 1163/QD-TTg approving the domestic trade development Strategy through 2030, with a vision towards 2045 is promulgated by the Prime Minister on July 13, 2021.

According to this Decision, objectives of domestic trade development include: The added value of domestic trade will achieve an average growth rate of about 9.0 - 9.5%/year by 2030, it will contribute about 15.0 - 15.5% to the country’s GDP; Total retail sales of consumer goods and services will achieve an average growth rate of 13.0 - 13.5%/year; by 2030; The revenue exchanged through e-commerce will

account for about 10.5 - 11% of the total retail sales of consumer goods and services of the whole economy; etc.

Besides, key tasks and solutions to develop domestic trade shall be as follows: Completing institutions, policies, improving business and investment environment, and managing trading activities in accordance with international commitments; Increasing domestic final consumer demand, developing distribution enterprises, linking circulation with production; Developing e-commerce and types of commerce based on digital platforms; etc.

This Decision takes effect on the signing date.

TO IMPOSE SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURE
IN 16 SOUTHERN PROVINCES FROM 00:00 ON JULY 19

The Prime Minister issues the Official Dispatch No. 969/TTg-KGVX regarding the imposition of social distancing measure for pandemic prevention and control in a number of localities on July 17, 2021.

In the face of the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the purpose of protecting and taking care of people’s health, the Prime Minister agrees to allow Can Tho City and the following provinces: Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang, An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Kien Giang to impose social distancing measure in line with the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 16/CT-TTg  within 14 days.

Therefore, apart from Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong province and Dong Nai province that have been applied social distancing measure, the Prime Minister agrees to allow 16 Southern provinces as mentioned above to apply social distancing measure.

NEW GUIDANCE ON PILOT HOME QUARANTINE OF F1 CASES

The Ministry of Health promulgates the Official Dispatch No. 5599/BYT-MT on shortening the quarantine period, piloting home quarantine of F1 cases, managing the provision of treatment for COVID-19 patients on July 14, 2021.

Accordingly, the quarantine period for F1 cases and people on entry (except for special cases) shall be cut from 21 days to 14 days. In addition, to pilot home quarantine for F1 cases with some contents as follows:

Firstly, warning signs in red background and yellow letters “QUARANTINE AREA FOR COVID-19 PREVENTION AND CONTROL"; and yellow containers with an infectious waste symbol, labeled “SARS-CoV-2 HAZARDOUS WASTE" shall be placed in front of the house used for home quarantine.

People subject to home quarantine must comply with the requirements such as: Not leaving their rooms during the quarantine period, not being in contact with family members as well as others, not touching pets; Installing, turning on and making health declaration on a daily basis on VHD or Bluezone app during the quarantine period; Measuring body temperatures, checking heath status and updating it on VHD or Bluezone app on a daily basis. In case the quarantined people do not have smartphones, they must daily report to health staff through the provided telephone number…

Also, they must not share personal belongings such as bowls, chopsticks, spoons, cups, toothbrushes and towels with others and be taken samples and tested for SARS-CoV-2 at least 03 times, on the 1^st day, 7^th day and 14^th day from the first day of quarantine. After completing the quarantine period, they must continue monitoring their health at home according to regulations.

HCMC: ENTERPRISES FAILING TO
SATISFY COVID-19 PREVENTION REQUIREMENTS MUST SUSPEND OPERATIONS FROM JULY 15

The Official Dispatch No. 2337/UBND-TH on suspension of operation of enterprises in the City that fail to meet COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control requirements is issued by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) on July 13, 2021.

To effectively implement the "dual goals" - both pandemic prevention and control, and economy promotion and development, in which the goal of ensuring the people's health is foremost; an enterprise located in the City may continue its production activities if meeting the following conditions:

TO SUPPLEMENT DOCUMENTS IN AN APPLICATION
FOR PROTECTION OF PLANT VARIETY RIGHTS

The Ministry of Agriculture issues the Circular No. 03/2021/TT-BNNPTNT amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Circular No. 16/2013/TT-BNNPTNT dated February 28, 2013 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the protection of plant variety rights on June 22, 2021.

Specifically, to supplement documents in an application for protection of plant variety rights as follows: An application form for plant variety protection; A declaration of the distinctness, uniformity and stability testing techniques; A letter of authorization; Photos of the sample variety: at least 03 9cm x 15cm color photos which show 3 distinct characteristics of the variety to be registered; Documents proving the right to register; A document proving the priority, in cases where the application has a claim for priority; Documents evidencing payment of fees and charges.

CONTENTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS IN THE NAME OF GENERAL DEPARTMENTS

The Decree No. 64/2021/ND-CP on the conclusion and implementation of international agreements in the name of general departments or departments under ministries or ministerial-level agencies; professional agencies of provincial-level People’s Committees; district-level People’s Committees; commune-level People’s Committees in border regions; provincial-level bodies of organizations is promulgated by the Government on June 30, 2021.

According to the Decree, the international agreements are demonstrated in writing, stating the intention of cooperation through specific activities within the scope of functions, tasks and powers of such attached units. The international agreements shall each include the following principal contents: The appellation of the document; names of the signing parties; fields, contents and modes of cooperation; the effect time and validity duration; the signing date, location and language; the full names and positions of the signatory representatives.

Besides, agencies and organizations concluding international agreements shall abide by the regime of