JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 26TT/LB ON THE MANAGEMENT OF EXPORT AND IMPORT OF CULTURAL PRODUCTS, SPECIALIZED MATERIALS, AND PRINTING EQUIPMENT

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 26/TT-LB OF THE MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND TRADE ON APRIL 15, 1994 REGULATING THE MANAGEMENT OF BUSINESS IN EXPORTING AND IMPORTING CULTURAL GOODS, SPECIAL MATERIALS, AND PRINTING EQUIPMENT 

Pursuant to Decree No. 384/HĐBT dated November 5, 1990 of the Council of Ministers on strengthening press and publication work;

Pursuant to Decree No. 114/HĐBT dated April 7, 1992 of the Council of Ministers on state management over export and import;

The Joint Ministry of Culture and Information and Trade hereby issues this circular regulating the management of business in exporting and importing cultural goods, special materials, and printing equipment:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

- The Ministry of Trade shall only issue export and import licenses for enterprises producing and trading in cultural goods and printing materials and equipment that have been established by the enterprise establishment review board of the Ministry of Culture and Information (established pursuant to Decree No. 388/HĐBT dated November 20, 1991) and determined to have the function of production and trade according to specified product categories.

- Enterprises without export and import licenses for cultural goods, special materials, and printing equipment shall not be permitted to engage in export and import activities for such goods as stipulated in Part III of this Circular.

II. LIST OF CULTURAL GOODS PROHIBITED FROM EXPORT AND IMPORT

1. List of cultural goods prohibited from export:

- Antiques (works of art belonging to various categories and handicrafts made of any material in Vietnam or abroad left in Vietnam since ancient times with a time period calculated from the beginning of the 20th century or earlier, which are rare or valuable in terms of history, culture, and art).

- Objects in museums and historical and cultural sites.

- Buddha statues and worship items made of any material originating from places of worship (temples, pagodas, shrines, churches...).

- Water puppetry with control mechanisms.

- Publications banned for circulation both domestically and internationally by the State.

2. List of cultural goods prohibited from import:

- Containing content opposing the Vietnamese State.

- Promoting decadent lifestyles, immorality, and violence contrary to national customs and traditions.

- Containing false and defamatory content against the reputation of organizations and citizens of Vietnam.

III. LIST OF CULTURAL GOODS AND SPECIAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE PRINTING INDUSTRY THAT MUST BE APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION BEFORE EXPORT OR IMPORT

1. List of cultural goods for export:

- Various types of publications (books, newspapers, magazines, pictures, calendars, maps, postcards, stamps), photographs, audio and video tapes, and discs of legitimate press agencies and publishers at central and local levels.

- Audio cassettes.

- Developed film for cinema and video and accessories for promotional and advertising purposes.

2. List of cultural goods and printing equipment for import:

a. Cultural goods:

- Books, newspapers, magazines, photographs.

- Works of plastic arts.

- Artistic products made of any material.

- Cinema films and audio and video tapes.

b. Special materials and printing equipment:

- Typesetting machines of various kinds.

- Offset printing machines of various kinds.

- Flexographic printing machines of various kinds.

- Electronic prepress equipment.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. When there is a need to conduct business in exporting or importing goods listed in Part III of this Circular, enterprises that have been issued export and import licenses for cultural goods and printing materials and equipment by the Ministry of Trade must submit a letter requesting approval from the Ministry of Culture and Information (Planning Department). The letter should clearly specify the name and quantity of each item (for imports).

After being reviewed by the Ministry of Culture and Information, the exporting or importing enterprise must proceed to the Ministry of Trade's export and import license issuance office to complete the export or import procedures.

2. The export and import of cultural goods through border gates must be supervised and verified by the relevant ministries managing the export and import of cultural goods and the customs authorities at the border gate to ensure that the actual quantity and names of goods exported or imported match those stated on the export or import permit issued by the Ministry of Trade (in accordance with Joint Circular No. 3007/TTLB/VH-HQ of the Ministries of Culture and General Customs Administration dated October 20, 1987).

3. Monthly reports on the implementation of export and import plans, including quantities, types, and value of goods exported and imported, must be submitted by exporting and importing enterprises to the Ministry of Trade (Export and Import Department) and the Ministry of Culture and Information (Planning Department) for monitoring.

4. The importation of large machinery and equipment or printing industry production lines must comply with Decision No. 91/TTg dated November 13, 1992 of the Prime Minister to ensure quality, modernity, and economic efficiency.

V. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

1. In addition to the lists of goods specified in this Circular, enterprises with export and import licenses for cultural goods and printing materials and equipment may export or import other goods according to their business needs, provided they conform to the functions and categories specified in their export and import licenses issued by the Ministry of Trade.

2. This Circular replaces Joint Circular No. 07/TT-LB/VH6NT of the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Trade dated January 17, 1985, and takes effect from the date of signature.