The confidentiality level stamp must be affixed below the document reference number

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

Circular 04/2015/TT-TTCP stipulates the management and use of seals in the protection of state secrets as follows:

1. Officials assigned the duty of handling documents and materials containing state secrets in agencies and units are responsible for managing and stamping various types of seals under the direction of the Head of the agency or unit or the competent authority.

2. The secrecy level and seal templates used in the protection of state secrets shall comply with the provisions of Circular No. 12/2002/TT-BCA (A11) dated September 13, 2002, issued by the Ministry of Public Security, guiding the implementation of Decree No. 33/2002/ND-CP dated March 28, 2002, of the Government of Vietnam detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Protection of State Secrets.

3. The secrecy level seal is stamped below the document's symbol number, the document retrieval seal is stamped at the top right corner of the confidential document, including the Confidential Document Appendix and the Proposal Form (if any); the confidential document retrieval seal is stamped at the top right corner of the document as conformable in Annex II attached to Circular No. 01/2011/TT-BNV dated January 19, 2011, of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

4. The seal "Only named addressee can open" is used in cases of transferring documents or materials containing "Top Secret" state secrets where only the named recipient can open the envelope to ensure the document's confidentiality. The document delivery unit must deliver directly to the named person on the envelope before the envelope can be opened.

5. The ink used for stamping the types of seals specified in Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of this Article is bright red ink.

For details, please see Circular 04/2015/TT-TTCP, effective from September 15, 2015.

Le Hai

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