Highlight of Notable Documents from May 29 - June 3, 2017

1. Fine up to 80 million VND for not implementing fuel blending

This is a new penalty added in Decree 67/2017/ND-CP on administrative sanctions in the field of petroleum, petroleum business, and gas.

From July 10, 2017, fines of 60 - 80 million VND will be imposed if the blending of biofuels with traditional fuels is not carried out as prescribed by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

The above penalty also applies to some other violations such as:

- Using a falsified, altered, or forged Certificate of Eligibility for Retail Petroleum Agency;- Leasing, lending, or borrowing the Certificate of Eligibility for Retail Petroleum Agency;- Using transportation vehicles for transporting petroleum without the permission of the competent authority as per legal regulations.

Details of penalties can be found in Decree 67/2017/ND-CP replacing Decree 97/2013/ND-CP.

1. New List of Technical Inspection Procedures for Labor Safety on Machines, Equipment, and Materials

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs issued Circular 54/2016/TT-BLDTBXH which includes 30 technical inspection procedures for labor safety on machines, equipment, and materials that require strict safety measures.

This adjusts the list of technical inspection procedures (QTKD) for labor safety on machines, equipment, and materials issued along with Circular 07/2014/TT-BLDTBXH and Circular 46/2015/TT-BLDTBXH as follows:

Additions:

- QTKD:11-2016/BLDTBXH on safety of lift tables;- QTKD:14-2016/BLDTBXH on safety of electric hoists used for lifting loads;- QTKD:16-2016/BLDTBXH on safety of manual hoists.

Abolitions:

- QTKD:13-2014/BLDTBXH and QTKD:14-2014/BLDTBXH on safety of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply systems at industrial and residential consumption sites;- QTKD:16-2014/BLDTBXH on safety of steel gas pipelines.

Circular 54/2016/TT-BLDTBXH takes effect from June 1, 2017, abolishing Circular 07/2014/TT-BLDTBXH and Circular 46/2015/TT-BLDTBXH.

1. Ministry of Finance announces 15 new administrative procedures in the finance and banking sector

On May 22, 2017, the Ministry of Finance issued Decision 902/QD-BTC announcing 15 administrative procedures (TTHC) in the finance and banking sector under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. Notable among these are:

- Procedures for granting, re-granting, adjusting, and extending the Certificate of Eligibility for Casino Business;- Procedures for granting, re-granting, adjusting, and extending the Certificate of Eligibility for Horse Racing Betting, Dog Racing Betting Business;- Procedures for interest rate support loans at credit institutions for investment projects on means of transportation, infrastructure investment for public passenger transport by bus;- Procedures for granting the Certificate of Eligibility for Video Game Business with Rewards for Foreigners.

The detailed content of each TTHC can be found in Decision 902/QD-BTC which takes effect from the date of signing and publication.

1. Increase loan amount by 250,000 VND per month for students

This is a notable content in Decision 751/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam on adjusting the loan amount for students under Clause 1 Article 5 Decision 157/2007/QD-TTg.

From June 15, 2017, the loan amount for students is adjusted to a maximum of 1,500,000 VND/month/student replacing the current loan amount of 1,250,000 VND.

At the same time, the Prime Minister also clearly stated the responsibilities of relevant ministries and sectors as follows:

- The Ministry of Planning and Investment will balance and allocate sufficient funds to compensate for the interest rate difference and management fees for the Bank for Social Policies as prescribed;- The Bank for Social Policies shall implement loan disbursement, debt recovery as per current legal regulations.

Decision 751/QD-TTg applies to new disbursements from June 15, 2017.

Additionally, Thu Ky Luat also updates some other documents in various fields such as:

1. Circular 16/2017/TT-BGTVT on the list of routes for transiting goods through Vietnam's territory, effective from July 15, 2017;
2. Official Dispatch 1915/BGDDT-GDTrH dated May 5, 2017 on reducing the number of contests for teachers and students of general education;
3. Official Dispatch 171/TANDTC-KHTC dated May 29, 2017 on making state budget expenditure estimates for 2018;
4. Official Dispatch 1569/BHXH-TCKT dated May 8, 2017 guiding the transfer of pension and social insurance benefits into the accounts of other individuals.

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