Highlights of Health and Trade Documents of the Past Week

1. Contraceptive Devices are Potentially Hazardous Products

This content is mentioned in Circular 31/2017/TT-BYT issued by the Ministry of Health on the List of products and goods with potential hazards under the management of the Ministry of Health (referred to as Group 2 List).

Contraceptive devices are considered products and goods with potential hazards included in the Group 2 List, comprising:

- Contraceptives used through implantation;- Intrauterine contraceptive devices;- Condoms and lubricants;- Skin patches, vaginal inserts, and pumps for contraception.

In addition, insecticides and disinfectants on aircraft; antibacterial bathing products for patients and medical staff; etc., are also added to the Group 2 List.

See details in Circular 31/2017/TT-BYT effective from September 15, 2017, replacing Circular 44/2011/TT-BYT.

1. Reproductive Health Counseling for Children by Age Group

On August 1, 2017, the Ministry of Health issued Circular 33/2017/TT-BYT regulating the principles and requirements for counseling and supporting children's reproductive health care appropriate to their age. According to this:

- Children aged 0-6 years: Counseling on how to care for and clean children's genital organs; prevention of abuse and sexual assault; gender education for children; abnormalities in the genital organs.- Children aged 7-13 years: Additional counseling about physical and psychological changes according to age; gender; sexual orientation. Notably:- Girls: counseling about menstruation, hygiene during menstruation, ovulation and pregnancy, masturbation;- Boys: counseling about ejaculation, phimosis, genital hygiene, masturbation.- Children aged 14-16 years: Additional content on prevention of gynecological and andrological diseases, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and necessary life skills.

Circular 33/2017/TT-BYT is effective from October 1, 2017.

1. Updated List of Vietnam's Export and Import Goods

On June 27, 2017, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular 65/2017/TT-BTC, attaching the following appendices:

- Appendix I - List of Vietnam's Export and Import Goods;- Appendix II - 06 general rules explaining the classification of goods according to the List of Vietnam's Export and Import Goods based on the Harmonized System of the World Customs Organization.

The list of Vietnam's export and import goods will officially apply from January 1, 2018, and will be used to:

- Develop tariff schedules for exported and imported goods;- Develop lists of goods for state management;- Compile state statistics on exported and imported goods;- Serve state management of exported, imported goods, and other areas.

Refer to the detailed list in Circular 65/2017/TT-BTC effective from January 1, 2018, replacing Circular 103/2015/TT-BTC.

1. Two Additional Cases Where Companies Lose Temporary Import-Export Codes

This content is mentioned in Circular 11/2017/TT-BCT issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on July 28, 2017, regulating the operation of temporary import, re-export; temporary export, re-import, and transit of goods.

Two additional cases where companies lose temporary import-export codes include:

- Unauthorized domestic consumption of temporarily imported goods;- Unauthorized breaking of customs seals on temporarily imported goods.

Additionally, the period for which the temporary import-export code will not be reissued is increased from 1 year to 2 years if the company’s code is revoked.

Moreover, the Ministry of Industry and Trade could temporarily suspend the validity of the temporary import-export code if the company is under investigation by authorities for violations or at the request of the authorities, with a temporary suspension period of 3 or 6 months or 1 year.

Circular 11/2017/TT-BCT is effective from September 11, 2017, replacing Circular 05/2014/TT-BCT and Article 2 of Circular 27/2016/TT-BCT.

Highlight video on medical and commercial legal documents of the past week

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