CIRCULAR
Detailed implementation of certain provisions of the Publishing Law on December 3,
2004, the Law amending and supplementing some articles of the Publishing Law on June 3,
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MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
Pursuant to the Publishing Law No. 30/2004/QH11 dated December 3, 2004, which has been amended and supplemented by Law No. 12/2008/QH12 dated June 3, 2008;
Pursuant to Decree No. 111/2005/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2005 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Publishing Law;
Pursuant to Decree No. 11/2009/NĐ-CP dated February 10, 2009 amending and supplementing Decree No. 111/2005/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2005 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Publishing Law;
At the proposal of the Director of the Publishing Department,
c) Enterprises may be granted permission for no more than one block out of the total three dual-frequency blocks (FDD) B
Article 1. Planning for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications
1. The work of planning for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications must ensure the following principles:
a) Implementing the State's policy of encouraging and supporting the development of the publishing industry, clearly defining the goals and directions of development for each stage;
b) Being consistent with and meeting the requirements of economic and social development of the country;
c) Developing the domestic publication market, accessing and expanding foreign markets, meeting the requirements of international economic integration;
d) Applying advanced technology and protecting the environment;
đ) The planning for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications in each economic region and locality must be consistent with the national planning for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications.
2. Responsibilities for developing the plan:
a) The Publishing Department shall take the lead in developing the national plan for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications and submit it to the competent authority for approval;
b) Based on the national plan for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications and the local socio-economic development plan, the Department of Information and Communications shall take the lead in developing the local plan for the development of the publishing industry, printing, and distribution of publications and submit it to the competent authority for approval.
Article 2. Publishing works and materials in the form of publications
Works and materials published in the following forms must be carried out through a publisher:
1. Printed books, embossed books; electronic reading and listening devices, digital devices, and internet-based publications;
2. Wall calendars, block calendars, pocket calendars, desk calendars, table calendars;
3. Pictures, photographs, maps, posters, loose sheets, folded sheets containing content as stipulated in Article 4 of the Publishing Law;
4. Audio tapes, audio discs, video tapes, video discs containing content that replaces books or illustrates books.
Article 3. Printing catalogues, loose sheets, folded sheets without requiring permission
1. Organizations and individuals ordering the printing of catalogues, loose sheets, and folded sheets for the purpose of introducing and guiding the use of goods and products; self-introduction about enterprises, goods, and services do not need to apply for publication permission.
2. On the catalogues, loose sheets, and folded sheets referred to in Clause 1 of this Article, at least the following information must be displayed:
a) Name, address, telephone number of the organization or individual ordering the print;
b) Name of the printing facility.
3. Printing plate-making, printing, and post-printing processing facilities do not need to obtain a license to operate in printing publications when only carrying out plate-making, printing, and post-printing processing of catalogues, loose sheets, and folded sheets as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.
Article 4. Review of works as prescribed in Article 21 of the Publishing Law
1. Prior to registering the publication plan for works as stipulated in Article 21 of the Publishing Law, the publisher must establish a review board to examine the content. The review board shall consist of the Director, Chief Editor, Head of the Editing Department, Editor, and representative of the publisher's supervising authority.
In cases where the work involves political, historical, or geographical content, the written opinion of the relevant state research agency at the central or provincial level must also be included.
2. The conclusion of the review board shall be documented in writing and accompanied by the approval opinion of the leader of the supervising authority of the publisher, which shall be submitted together with the registration form for the publication plan.
Article 5. Submission of Preservation Copies of Publication Products
1. The submission of preservation copies of publication products shall be carried out in accordance with the regulations on preservation copies of publication products issued together with Decision No. 102/2006/QD-BVHTT dated December 29, 2006, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Publishing Department shall be responsible for guiding the business units of the Provincial Departments of Information and Communications on receiving and inspecting preservation copies of publication products.
2. At least ten days before publishing the publication product online, the publisher must submit a preservation copy to the Publishing Department, including the storage device containing the preservation copy (CD-ROM, DVD, VCD, USB) or an email attachment (file containing the publication product content not exceeding 03 MB) along with two declaration forms for preservation copies.
Article 6. Publication and Distribution of Publication Products on Computer Network (Internet)
1. Publishers implementing publication on the Internet must establish an electronic information site (website) using the national domain name "vn" or provide a written authorization for the organization or individual with a business registration certificate for distribution of publication products to publish the publication product on a website using the national domain name "vn".
2. Publishers and organizations or individuals with a business registration certificate for distribution of publication products may only distribute publication products on the Internet and must comply with the provisions of Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree No. 11/2009/NĐ-CP dated February 10, 2009.
Article 7. Conditions for Signing Printing and Post-Printing Processing Contracts for Publication Products
When signing contracts, the individual placing the print order must provide the following documents to the printing establishment for retention:
1. An introduction letter or authorization document from the publisher or authorized entity granting permission to publish, clearly stating the introduction or authorization details, the name, position, address, and phone number of the person being introduced or authorized, the title of the publication product, and the decision number for publication by the publisher's director or the publication permit number.
2. The publication decision by the publisher's director or the publication permit for non-commercial materials issued by the Publishing Department or the Provincial Department of Information and Communications.
3. The manuscript of the publication product signed off by the publisher's director or the manuscript of the non-commercial material stamped by the Publishing Department or the Provincial Department of Information and Communications.
Article 8. Equipment Requirements for Granting a Printing Operation Permit for Publication Products
1. The printing establishment must have at least the following equipment according to its operational functions to be granted a printing operation permit for publication products:
a) Computer, film recorder, or zinc plate recorder;
b) Printer;
c) Cutting machine, steel sewing machine, binding machine, or combined finishing machine for publication products.
2. The printing establishment must submit a copy of one of the following documents proving possession of the equipment specified in Clause 1 of this Article for the Publishing Department or the Provincial Department of Information and Communications to consider and issue the permit:
a) Invoice for purchasing equipment or equivalent documentation;
b) Equipment rental contract and related documents.
3. If the establishment only performs post-printing processing, it does not need to apply for a printing operation permit but must maintain a record book for processed products.
Article 9. Publishing products shall not be reproduced, printed, or post-print processed for foreign countries
The following publishing products shall not be reproduced, printed, or post-print processed for foreign organizations or individuals:
1. Those containing content that violates the provisions of Article 10 of the Law on Publishing;
2. Those violating intellectual property laws;
3. Those subject to decisions to suspend distribution, recall, confiscate, prohibit circulation, or destroy in Vietnam;
4. Those containing content inconsistent with Vietnam's foreign relations.
Article 10. Registration and Confirmation of Registration for Imported Publishing Products for Business Purposes
1. Prior to importation, the business entity importing publishing products must submit a registration form for the list of imported publishing products for business purposes along with three copies of the list of imported publishing products to the Publishing Department.
2. Within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the registration form and the list of imported publishing products for business purposes, the Publishing Department will review and confirm the registration in writing, stamp the three copies of the list, and return two copies to the business entity importing the publishing products.
Article 11. Documents for Application for Import Permit for Non-Business Publishing Products
1. The application documents include:
a) An application form for the permit accompanied by three copies of the list of publishing products to be imported;
b) A copy of the national identity card or passport of the person handling the application for the permit (with the original for verification), except when submitting the application for the permit through the postal system or express delivery;
c) A copy of the consignment note, invoice, and notification of receipt of goods, with the original for verification (if applicable) for publishing products being held by customs, postal services, or express delivery service enterprises;
d) A certified copy of the operating license for foreign agencies, organizations, or international organizations named in the application for the permit;
đ) In cases where publishing products are imported for specialized research purposes, an additional request for permission to import must be provided by the Minister, Head of a ministry-level agency, or head of an organization under the Government, or the head of a central agency or provincial agency responsible for the relevant field.
2. Central agencies, organizations; foreign agencies, organizations; international organizations headquartered in Hanoi shall submit applications for permits to import non-business publishing products to the Publishing Department or the Information and Communications Department of Hanoi City.
3. Local agencies, organizations; branches, representative offices, subordinate units of central agencies located in localities; foreign agencies, organizations, international organizations headquartered in or operating in localities; Vietnamese individuals or foreign individuals residing in or visiting localities shall submit applications for permits to import non-business publishing products to the Information and Communications Departments of their respective localities.
Article 12. Content Review of Imported Non-Business Publishing Products
The content review of imported publishing products to decide on issuing a non-business import permit shall be carried out as follows:
1. Organizations or individuals importing non-business publishing products shall be responsible under the law for the content of the publishing products they import;
2. When discovering signs of violations of the Law on Publishing and other related laws, the Publishing Department or the Information and Communications Department shall have the responsibility:
a) For publishing products being held at customs, postal services, or express delivery service enterprises to complete import procedures:
- Issue an import permit for the minimum number of publishing products necessary for content review;
- Require organizations or individuals importing the products to submit them for content review and bear the costs of the review according to current regulations;
- Form a content review board consisting of experts qualified to conduct the review. The review period shall not exceed ten days for one book and five days for other types of publishing products specified in Clauses 2, 3, and 4 of Article 2 of this Circular. The results of the review must be documented in writing.
- Within five days from receiving the review report, the Publishing Department or the Information and Communications Department shall examine and issue an import permit for the reviewed publishing products; if the permit is not issued, a written request must be made for the organization or individual importing the products to re-export or destroy the requested imported publishing products.
b) For movable assets of organizations or individuals for personal use, or materials for international conferences or seminars approved by competent Vietnamese authorities to be organized in Vietnam and transferred to other Vietnamese organizations or individuals:
- Require the receiving organization or individual to conduct a content review. The review report must be documented in writing and sent to the Publishing Department or the Information and Communications Department;
- Within seven days from receiving the review report, the Publishing Department or the Information and Communications Department shall examine and issue an import permit; if the permit is not issued, a written request must be made for the organization or individual applying for the permit to refuse to accept the publishing product.
Article 13. Examination of Content of Imported Publications for Business Purposes That Indicate Violation of Law
The examination of content of imported publications for business purposes that indicate violation of law shall be carried out as follows:
1. When detecting publications with signs of violating the Law on Publishing and other relevant legal provisions, the Publishing Department shall issue a document requesting the importer to establish an examination board comprising experts with sufficient qualifications to organize the examination before confirming the import registration. The minutes of the examination board shall be recorded in writing and sent back to the Publishing Department;
2. In cases where the importer does not have the conditions to examine the content of publications prior to import, the Publishing Department shall confirm the import registration with the minimum number of publications necessary for content examination and require the importer to conduct content examination in accordance with point a, Clause 1, Article 13 of this Decree;
3. Within ten days from the date of receipt of the examination minutes, the Publishing Department shall review and confirm the import registration or issue a document refusing confirmation of the import registration and compel the importer to re-export or destroy the imported publications used for examination.
Article 14. Exhibitions and Trade Fairs of Publications
1. Vietnamese agencies, organizations, individuals, foreign agencies, organizations, individuals, and international organizations displaying publications for business purposes through trade fairs must apply for permission to organize publication trade fairs in accordance with Article 42 of the Law on Publishing and Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 19 of Decree No. 111/2005/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2005.
2. Foreign agencies, organizations, individuals, and international organizations displaying publications for promotional purposes to many people without the aim of business through exhibitions must apply for permission to organize publication exhibitions in accordance with Article 42 of the Law on Publishing and Clause 1 and Clause 2, Article 19 of Decree No. 111/2005/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2005.
Article 15. Responsibilities of the Department of Information and Communications in Temporarily Suspending Activities of Central Publishers, Printing Facilities, and Distribution Outlets at Local Levels
In cases where central publishers, printing facilities, and distribution outlets located at local levels need to temporarily suspend activities due to violations, the Department of Information and Communications shall be responsible for:
1. Reporting to the Minister of Information and Communications and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee;
2. After receiving written comments from the Minister of Information and Communications, the Department of Information and Communications shall be responsible for submitting to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and handling according to the authority stipulated in point d, Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree No. 111/2005/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2005.
Article 16. Reissuing Business Operation Licenses for Importing Publications
Within sixty days from the date this Circular takes effect, businesses importing publications that were issued a business operation license before January 1, 2009, must complete procedures to reapply for a business operation license.
Article 17. Issuance of Forms
This Circular hereby issues twenty-two forms to implement administrative procedures in the fields of publishing, printing, and distribution of publications.
Article 18. Effective Date
This Circular takes effect from March 15, 2010.
Circular No. 30/2006/TT-BVHTT dated February 22, 2006, of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism guiding the implementation of Decree No. 111/2005/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2005, of the Government and Decision No. 31/2006/QĐ-BVHTT dated March 1, 2006, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issuing various permit and registration confirmation forms used in publication activities shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.
During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to report in writing to the Ministry of Information and Communications (through the Publishing Department) for consideration and resolution./.