Joint Circular No. 281-TTLB guiding the implementation of the system for ordering books and newspapers and financial support for the press

CIRCULAR

JOINT MINISTRY OF FINANCE, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, INFORMATION - SPORTS AND TOURISM

Guidelines for implementing the system of ordering publications and subsidizing newspapers

Implement Article 17/1 of the Press Law dated January 2, 1990 by the State Council and Decision No. 60-HĐBT dated June 8, 1989 by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Culture, Information - Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Finance provide guidelines for the system of ordering publications and newspapers and subsidizing newspapers as follows:

1. Publishing and press work is political, ideological, and cultural work. Publishing and press agencies are economic accounting units to serve the political tasks of the Party and the State.

2. Individuals who have registered as the principal investigator of a Research Project or Pilot Production Project and those participating in its implementation shall not participate in the Evaluation and Selection Council for that Research Project or Pilot Production Project (hereinafter referred to as the Council). In necessary cases, members of the Council may be staff members of the organization registering as the principal investigator of the Research Project or Pilot Production Project, but not more than one person and they cannot serve as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, or reviewing member.

2. Types of books and newspapers that serve a broad social audience but lack the ability to balance income and expenses will be subsidized by the state budget through the state's ordering system; management agencies and agencies with educational propaganda needs act on behalf of the state to place orders. Management agencies create conditions for their publishing houses and press agencies to operate stably through the implementation of the ordering mechanism, capital allocation, and subsidies within the financial capacity announced by the state budget at each level.

3. The selling price of books and newspapers under the ordering system shall be within the framework of state-set prices.

1. Entities placing orders with publishing and press agencies.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Organizations and units with materials, scientific research works wishing to publish through book form.

Political, literary and artistic works, textbooks, teaching materials printed as books, and some political and scientific newspapers serving a broad social audience without the ability to balance income and expenses if losses occur after being reviewed and settled by the management agency and agreed upon by the same-level finance agency, the management agency will use its own funds to subsidize.

Radio and television news broadcasts (within the radio and television system) implement the state's ordering system with the form of annual budget allocation based on broadcasting hours.

Imported books and newspapers are implemented according to the ordering mechanism of the requesting entity with the book import-export agency; if the import-export agency signs purchase contracts independently, it balances income and expenses itself.

Books and newspapers imported and exported under agreements between two parties and states, if the import-export agency cannot balance income and expenses, the state places orders through the budget allocated to the management agency according to approved plans.

Books and newspapers co-published with foreign entities by agencies, press, and publishing must go through signing contracts with the book import-export agency. In cases where the publishing agency self-publishes books and newspapers and signs cooperative publication contracts or directly imports books and newspapers, they must balance income and expenses themselves, and the state budget does not provide subsidies.

State orders for publishing agencies must contact book distribution agencies in each locality to sell according to current regulations, except when customers sign contracts with publishing agencies, they are responsible for selling their own publications.

2. Provisions on signing ordering contracts:

Ordering the publication of books and newspapers must sign economic contracts according to current regulations on economic contracts.

In addition to specific clauses of current economic contracts in the field of books and newspapers, the following contents are added:

The ordering party must prepay 30% of the value of the ordered books and newspapers, and pay the remaining amount after delivering the products. If the ordering party unilaterally cancels the contract due to any reason, the ordering party will be responsible for paying all costs incurred by the receiving party.

For books and newspapers ordered by the state, the agency representing the state to place orders together with the finance agency will examine costs and determine the revenue potential of the ordered books and newspapers to temporarily allocate 50% of the difference between income and expenditure from the state budget already allocated. After the final settlement, the remaining amount will be paid.

Contract prices are set within the framework of state-set prices.

1. These provisions apply uniformly nationwide from the date of issuance.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

2. The finance sector, price control sector, the Office of Information, and management agencies have the responsibility to set the framework for the selling price of books and newspapers under the ordering system; supervise, inspect, urge, and take measures to assist in material and technical conditions, financial balance, etc., so that publishing and press agencies can effectively implement the ordering and subsidy policy according to their assigned functions and tasks.

3. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties and obstacles, agencies and units are requested to report to the Joint Ministry of Culture, Information - Sports and Tourism - Finance for appropriate amendments and supplements.

3. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, it is recommended that agencies and units report to the Joint Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism - Finance for amendments and supplements to ensure appropriateness.