07 Prominent Policies Effective from Mid-May 2018

1. Specifications of Printing Inspection and Penalty Forms of Market Management

Circular 08/2018/TT-BCT effective from May 17, 2018, revises regulations on the form of records and decisions used in inspection and handling administrative violations by Market Management (QLTT). Specifically:

- For pre-printed forms:

- Print on white paper (A4 size) with anti-counterfeit pale yellow background patterns, the phrase “QUAN LY THI TRUONG” printed diagonally, etc.;- The form number includes 02 parts, connected by a slash (/). Part I has 08 digits, a natural sequence from small to large numbers, part II is the abbreviation of the document type.

- For self-printed forms:

- Print on A4 size paper, formatted and presented like administrative documents;- The form number includes 02 parts, connected by a slash (/):- Part I has 08 digits, the first two digits are the number of the provincial QLTT agency (excluding the central QLTT agencies, denoted as TW), the next two digits are the code of the subordinate QLTT unit, the following four digits are a natural sequence from small to large numbers;- Part II is the abbreviation of the document type.

1. Level of Responsibility Allowance for Chief Accountants in State Agencies

Circular 04/2018/TT-BNV (effective from May 15, 2018) guides the authority, procedures, timing, dossier for appointment, reappointment, arrangement, dismissal, replacement, and responsibility allowance for chief accountants, accounting managers in state accounting units.

Notably, the regulations on the level of responsibility allowance for chief accountants. Specifically: Those appointed as chief accountants in the following units will enjoy a monthly responsibility allowance at a rate of 0.2 based on the statutory pay rate:

- Agencies responsible for state budget revenue and expenditure at all levels (State Treasury, tax offices, customs offices);- State agencies;- Public non-business units;- Organizations, units using the state budget;- Organizations granted funds by the State to carry out specific political - social objectives.

1. New Fees for Travel Service Business Licensing

From May 14, 2018, the fee and charge levels in travel service business activities are applied according to Circular 33/2018/TT-BTC. Specifically:

- Appraisal fee for issuing international/domestic travel service business license:

- New issuance: 3,000,000 VND/license;- Renewal: 2,000,000 VND/license;- Re-issuance: 1,500,000 VND/license.

- Appraisal fee for issuing tour guide cards:

- International and domestic tour guides: 650,000 VND/card;- On-site tour guides: 200,000 VND/card.

- Fee for issuing the license for establishing representative offices in Vietnam of foreign travel service businesses:

- New issuance: 3,000,000 VND/license;- Re-issuance, adjustment, extension: 1,500,000 VND/license.

1. List of Machinery, Equipment, and Spare Parts Produced Domestically

On March 30, 2018, the Ministry of Planning and Investment issued Circular 01/2018/TT-BKHDT publishing the list of machinery, equipment, spare parts, specialized transport means, raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products that are produced domestically, including:

- Appendix I: List of specialized transport means;- Appendix II: List of machinery and equipment;- Appendix III: List of construction materials;- Appendix IV: List of raw materials, supplies, components, and spare parts;- Appendix V: List of components and spare parts for automobiles;- Appendix VI: List of necessary materials for oil and gas activities;- Appendix VII: List of raw materials, supplies, semi-finished products for shipbuilding;- Appendix VIII: List of machinery, equipment, raw materials, supplies, components in telecommunications - information technology, digital content, software;- Appendix IX: List of plant varieties, livestock breeds, fertilizers, pesticides.

1. 3-Star Hotels: Appraisal Fee for Recognition Reduced to 2 Million VND

This is a new point in Circular 34/2018/TT-BTC regulating the fees for appraisal, recognition, and management of fees for recognizing tourist accommodation facilities and other tourism service businesses meeting service standards for tourists.

Starting from May 14, 2018, the appraisal fee for recognizing a 3-star tourist accommodation facility is reduced from 3 million to 2 million VND/application.

For tourist accommodation facilities with 1-star, 2-star, 4-star, and 5-star ratings, and other tourism service business facilities, the appraisal fees remain unchanged.

1. Circular 03/2018/TT-BCT effective from May 14, 2018, stipulates the tariff quota for the import in 2018 of chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, and other types of eggs, and salt.

2. Circular 04/2018/TT-BCT effective from May 17, 2018, stipulates the non-application of tariff quotas for the import of salt and poultry eggs originating from ASEAN countries.**

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