Circular No. 23/2009/TT-NHNN on the design of templates, printing plates, and management of printing and minting of Vietnamese currency

CIRCULAR

Regulations on designing templates, engraving, and managing the printing and minting of Vietnamese currency

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Pursuant to the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam 1997 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on the State Bank of Vietnam 2003;

Pursuant to Decree No. 96/2008/NĐ-CP dated August 26, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the State Bank of Vietnam;

Based on Decree No. 81/1998/NĐ-CP dated October 1, 1998, of the Government on printing, minting, storing, transporting, and destroying paper money and metal coins; storing and transporting valuable assets and securities within the banking system;

The State Bank of Vietnam stipulates the regulations on designing templates, engraving, and managing the printing and minting of Vietnamese currency as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the design of currency templates; engraving for printing and creating molds for minting; management of printing and minting of Vietnamese currency and protection of state secrets in the printing and minting of currency by the State Bank of Vietnam (referred to as the State Bank).

Article 2. Principles of organization and management of printing and minting of Vietnamese currency

1. Printing and minting of currency shall be carried out according to contracts between the State Bank (Currency Issuance and Treasury Department) and the printing and minting factories based on the printing and minting plan and technical standards of the currency approved by the Governor of the State Bank.

2. The State Bank is the owner of copyright for the designs of various types of currency that have been approved by authorized authorities. The artists directly creating the approved currency designs are recognized as authors or co-authors and are entitled to remuneration as prescribed by laws on intellectual property.

3. The printing and minting factory under contract with the State Bank (Currency Issuance and Treasury Department) shall not use dedicated materials for printing and minting Vietnamese currency to produce other products.

4. In cases where engraving for printing, creating molds for minting, and printing and minting Vietnamese currency are carried out abroad, the Currency Issuance and Treasury Department shall submit to the Governor of the State Bank for approval by the Prime Minister.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Vietnamese currency includes: paper money (polymer, cotton) and metal coins printed, minted, and issued by the State Bank.

2. is the stamp design that meets the requirements of the theme's content and images and technical requirements for postal stamps.: refers to the currency design template that has been approved by authorized authorities.

3. Standard printing and minting model: refers to the single or multi-shape trial printing and minting model that has been approved by authorized authorities.

4. Original printing plate, original mold: refers to the printing plates and molds of the standard printing and minting models that have been approved and accepted by authorized authorities.

5. Printing and minting factory: refers to the National Note Printing Works or other printing and minting factories that have contracts for engraving, creating molds, printing, and minting currency with the State Bank.

Chapter II

DESIGN OF TEMPLATES, ENGRAVING FOR PRINTING, AND CREATING MOLDS FOR MINTING

Article 4. Development of a proposal for designing currency templates

Based on the issuance policy of new currency that has been approved by authorized authorities, the Currency Issuance and Treasury Department will study and develop a proposal for designing currency templates including: denomination structure, material, color, size, weight, theme, security techniques; production technology, other technical requirements, and the expected time frame for implementing the proposal to be submitted to the Governor of the State Bank for consideration and approval by the Prime Minister.

Article 5. Banknote Model Design

1. The Currency Issuance and Treasury Department is responsible for developing plans and implementing the design of templates according to the approved currency template design proposal. The design template plan must clearly specify the timeline and work content for each template.

2. Requirements for the design template

a) It must be aesthetically pleasing and highly counterfeit-resistant, consistent with the cultural identity of the Vietnamese people;

b) Easy to recognize, convenient for use and storage, and suitable for automated currency processing;

c) Compatible with the technology, techniques, and equipment of the printing and minting factory; enhancing the application of advanced global techniques in designing templates, engraving for printing, and creating molds for minting to improve the quality, counterfeit-resistance, and durability of the currency.

Article 6. Submission of Sample Design for Review

After completing the design of sample currency according to the approved project, the Issuance and Treasury Department prepares the dossier to submit to the Governor of the State Bank for review by the Prime Minister. The dossier includes:

1. A request from the State Bank to the Prime Minister for approval of the sample design.

2. The complete sample design.

3. A technical description including:

a) Printing and casting technology, including mold making and printing/casting techniques.

b) Specifications and types of printing and casting materials (printing paper, ink, metal coin blanks...).

c) Technical security features.

4. An estimated cost of production.

5. Technical requirements and other related documents.

Article 7. Printing Plate Making and Mold Casting

1. The original printing plate making and mold casting are carried out at the printing and minting factory based on the official sample design. During the process of making the original printing plates and molds, the Issuance and Treasury Department is responsible for coordinating with the printing and minting factory regarding aesthetics, technology, and technique.

2. The original printing plate making and mold casting must accurately reflect the form and content of the official sample design and meet the requirements of the sample design project and the dossier submitted for review and approved by the Prime Minister.

In cases where it is necessary to modify certain details on the printing plates or molds to better suit the printing or casting technology, equipment, or materials, leading to adjustments in the official sample design, the printing and minting factory must submit a document requesting the State Bank (through the Issuance and Treasury Department) to consider and submit to the Prime Minister. Adjustments and modifications can only be made upon receipt of approval from the Prime Minister.

3. The production printing plates and molds must ensure accuracy like the original printing plates and molds. The printing and minting factory decides the number of production printing plates and molds appropriate to the quantity of currency required under the contract with the State Bank (Issuance and Treasury Department).

Article 8. Trial Printing and Minting

1. During the process of making the original printing plates and molds, the printing and minting factory must conduct trial printing and casting to determine the highest quality print and cast samples and perfect the printing plates and molds, in accordance with Article 10 of this Circular, to submit to the Governor of the State Bank.

2. Trial printing and casting methods:

a) For metallic coins: trial casting and striking single images on metallic coin blanks according to the official sample design.

b) For banknotes: trial printing single images according to the official sample design; trial multi-image printing on full-size printing paper based on the standard single image print.

Article 9. Safety Locks

1. The Director of the Issuance and Treasury Department decides on the type of security lock and installation method for each type of currency. The security lock is directly managed by the Director of the Issuance and Treasury Department and reported to the Governor of the State Bank.

2. The person installing the security lock is designated by the Director of the Issuance and Treasury Department, who is responsible for preparing and transferring all relevant documents to the Director immediately after completion of the work and is responsible for protecting the confidentiality of the security lock in accordance with state secrecy protection regulations.

Article 10. Approval of Trial Printing and Casting Samples and Acceptance of Original Printing Plates and Molds

1. The dossier for reviewing trial single-image printing and casting samples and accepting original printing plates and molds from the printing and minting factory includes:

a) A request for approval of trial single-image printing and casting samples and acceptance of original printing plates and molds.

b) The official sample design.

c) Trial single-image printing and casting samples.

d) Technical test results and evaluation of trial single-image printing and casting samples compared to the technical requirements of the sample design project and the dossier submitted for currency design samples approved by the Prime Minister as stipulated in Articles 4 and 6 of this Circular.

2. The dossier for reviewing trial multi-image printing samples from the printing and minting factory includes:

a) A request for approval of trial multi-image printing samples.

b) Standard single-image printing samples.

c) Trial multi-image printing samples.

d) Technical evaluation of trial multi-image printing samples based on standard single-image printing samples.

3. The Issuance and Treasury Department is responsible for evaluating and assessing trial printing and casting samples and original printing plates and molds based on the official sample design and technical and quality requirements for currency.

4. The Governor of the State Bank approves standard single-image printing samples and accepts original printing plates and molds based on the assessment results and recommendations of the Issuance and Treasury Department.

The Director of the Issuance and Treasury Department approves standard multi-image printing samples based on standard single-image printing samples and technical standards for currency.

Chapter III

PRINTING AND CASTING OF CURRENCY

Article 11. Technical standards for currency

Based on the design sample approval dossier, printing and casting trial single shape sample approval dossier, and related documents which have been approved by the competent authority, the Issuance and Treasury Department shall take the lead and coordinate with the printing and minting factory to establish the technical standard dossier for each currency sample to be submitted to the Governor of the State Bank for approval. After being approved and issued, the technical standards for currency serve as the legal basis for managing the quality of printed and minted currency.

Article 12. Official printing and minting of currency

Official printing and minting of currency shall be carried out based on:

1. The printing and minting contract signed between the State Bank (Issuance and Treasury Department) and the printing and minting factory based on the printing and minting plan approved by the Governor of the State Bank;

2. Multi-shape printing standard samples (for paper money) and single-shape minting standard samples (for metallic coins);

3. Technical standards for currency.

Article 13. Currency quality management

1. During the production process, the printing and minting factory must comply with the printing and minting technology procedures and product quality inspection and control procedures to ensure that the products delivered to the State Bank meet the technical standards issued by the Governor of the State Bank. Quality control results must be documented and confirmed by the authorized person of the printing and minting factory.

2. If necessary, the Issuance and Treasury Department will conduct inspections and evaluations of the printing and minting factory's ability to fulfill contracts regarding printing and minting technology procedures; product quality inspection and control procedures; security and safety control procedures at each production stage; and the quality of printing and minting raw materials to ensure the quality of printed and minted currency.

3. Before delivering the products to the State Bank, the Issuance and Treasury Department is responsible for inspecting and appraising the quality of the currency through sampling methods. The products will be accepted if the sampled items meet the inspection and appraisal standards set by the Governor of the State Bank. These standards and procedures are defined by the Governor of the State Bank upon the recommendation of the Issuance and Treasury Department.

4. The printing and minting factory is responsible for products that do not meet technical standards or are over or under the quantity in the number of products already accepted by the State Bank (Issuance and Treasury Department) according to the sampling inspection method stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article.

Chapter IV

PROTECTING STATE SECRECY IN PRINTING AND MINTING OF CURRENCY

Article 14. Dossiers and documents containing state secrets in printing and minting of currency

Dossiers, documents, or objects carrying information related to the printing and minting of currency that have not yet been publicly released include:

1. Proposals, plans, and design and engraving plans for currency samples;

2. Official design samples; technical specifications and security keys for each currency sample;

3. Original prints and molds; trial printing and minting samples (single and multi-shape) for each currency sample;

4. Documents about anti-counterfeiting factors (security features) and undisclosed technical specifications for each currency sample;

5. Documents showing the quantity of printed and minted currency; serial number issuance for printing;

6. Printing and minting technology procedures; ink formulation recipes;

7. Documents specifying the symbols of various currencies.

Article 15. Management of files, documents, and confidential information in printing and minting money

1. The files and documents specified in Article 14 of this Circular must be stored in accordance with their level of confidentiality as prescribed by laws on the degree of confidentiality for each type of document and state secrets carried by objects within the banking sector, as well as archival and record-keeping regulations.

2. Computer systems (or internal computer networks) used for designing, preparing printing plates, and creating minting dies must be strictly managed regarding user access, modification, copying, and exporting of information to ensure safety and data confidentiality.

3. After commencing formal production, the printing and minting factory must hand over all relevant files and documents related to design, plate-making, die-making, trial printing, and trial minting processes to the State Bank of Vietnam (Currency Issuance and Treasury Department); for information and data on computers, a full backup must be made onto storage devices for handover, and all such information and data must be completely erased under the witness of an authorized representative of the State Bank of Vietnam.

4. For the purpose of production, the printing and minting factory may only retain and store:

a) One set of original plate files, one set of original print samples, and one set of original minting dies for Vietnamese currency for plate-making and die-making for production;

b) Standard multi-color print samples, monochrome print samples, and color charts for comparison and quality control during official printing;

c) A standard technical file set for currency for comparison and monitoring of implementation.

5. The preservation, retention, transportation, and transfer of documents specified in Article 14 of this Circular must comply with legal provisions on protecting state secrets and guidelines issued by the State Bank of Vietnam on protecting state secrets within the banking sector.

6. The responsibility for managing confidential files and documents in printing and minting money at the printing and minting factory is specifically stipulated in the plate-making and printing contracts signed with the State Bank of Vietnam.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 16. Responsibilities of the Currency Issuance and Treasury Department

1. Organize the implementation of tasks related to the functions and responsibilities of the Currency Issuance and Treasury Department as prescribed in this Circular; issue regulations on the management and use of computer systems (or internal computer networks) for designing currency models;

2. Report quarterly to the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on the implementation of the printing and minting plan; proactively propose adjustments to the annual printing and minting plan of the State Bank of Vietnam when necessary; report annually to the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam to report to the Prime Minister on the results of printing and minting activities in the year, concurrently sending reports to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Security.

3. Protect state secrets of the files and documents specified in Article 14 of this Circular and related files and documents at the Currency Issuance and Treasury Department during the implementation of model design, plate-making, die-making, and printing and minting activities;

4. Participate in appraising the cost of products for each type of currency;

5. Send internal audit department the documents according to the inspection and supervision regulations of the State Bank of Vietnam on the activities of printing and minting Vietnamese currency at the National Printing Works, as promulgated by the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam.

Article 17. Responsibilities of the Internal Audit Department

The Internal Audit Department inspects and supervises the implementation of this Circular and other related regulations according to its functions, responsibilities, and inspection and supervision regulations of the State Bank of Vietnam on printing and minting activities.

Article 18. Duties of printing and minting factories

1. Printing and minting factories under contracts with the State Bank shall be responsible for implementing the provisions set forth in Clause 2, Article 7 of Decree No. 81/1998/ND-CP dated October 1, 1998 of the Government, the provisions of this Circular, and the terms of the contracts signed with the State Bank.

2. The National Printing Money Factory, in addition to performing the duties stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, shall also be responsible for:

a) Developing and submitting to the Governor of the State Bank (through the Issuance and Treasury Department) for promulgation the technological process for printing and minting money; developing and promulgating quality control procedures; security and safety control procedures; regulations on managing and using computer systems (or internal networks) for printing plates and minting dies in accordance with this Circular.

b) Not using machinery, equipment, and materials specifically dedicated to printing and minting Vietnamese money for other products. In case there is a need to use them for other purposes, prior written approval from the Governor of the State Bank must be obtained;

c) Submitting to the Issuance and Treasury Department the following documents:

- Documents specified in point a, Clause 2 of this Article;

- Reports on material consumption quotas and actual material consumption rates for paper, ink (offset, intaglio, number printing, overprinting) for each type of currency and product defect rates;

- Reports on the results of technical standard and quality evaluation tests for each type of officially printed product;

d) Protecting state secrets in the files and documents specified in Article 14 of this Circular and related files and documents at the factory during the production of printing plates and minting dies and printing and minting money;

đ) Submitting to the Internal Audit Department the documents specified in point a, Clause 2 of this Article and other documents according to the inspection and supervision regulations of the State Bank regarding the printing and minting of Vietnamese money at the National Printing Money Factory issued by the Governor of the State Bank.

Article 19. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect 45 days from the date of issuance and replaces Decision No. 02/2007/QĐ-NHNN dated January 16, 2007 of the Governor of the State Bank on the issuance of the Organizational and Management Regulations for Printing and Minting Vietnamese Money.

2. The Director of the State Bank Office, the Head of the Issuance and Treasury Department, the Head of the Internal Audit Department, the Heads of relevant units under the State Bank; the Directors of printing and minting factories are responsible for implementing this Circular./.