JOINT CIRCULAR No. 4-LB/BĐ/VHTT ON THE DUTIES BETWEEN TWO SECTORS IN THE EXPORT AND IMPORT OF LETTERS AND PARCELS CONTAINING CULTURAL PRODUCTS

CIRCULAR

JOINT MINISTRY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS - MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION
JOINT DECREE NO. 4/LB-BĐ-VHTT OF JANUARY 26, 1981 REGULATING
RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE TWO SECTORS IN THE PRODUCTION,
IMPORTATION OF LETTERS AND PACKAGES CONTAINING CULTURAL PRODUCTS

To implement Decree No. 100-CP dated June 1, 1966 on the unification of management for export and import of cultural products and the regulations on sending, receiving, transferring, and delivering letters and packages issued together with Decree No. 91-CP dated May 2, 1973 of the Council of Ministers, the General Department of Posts and Telecommunications and the Ministry of Culture and Information hereby specify the specific responsibilities between the two sectors in the export and import of letters and packages containing cultural products as follows.

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.

The postal sector must ensure safety and rapid transfer and delivery of letters and packages containing cultural products from the time of receipt to the completion of delivery to the recipient according to the regulations on sending, receiving, transferring, and delivering letters and packages.

The culture and information sector has the responsibility to manage the export and import of cultural products to ensure that such activities comply with current laws.

Both sectors must closely cooperate with each other to ensure that cultural products exported and imported through the postal service comply with all state regulations.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN THE POSTAL SECTOR AND THE CULTURE AND INFORMATION SECTOR
1. Postal offices designated by the General Department of Posts and Telecommunications to handle the export and import of letters and packages (hereinafter referred to as foreign exchange postal offices) between our country and foreign countries must coordinate with customs, culture, and information departments to process the export and import procedures for letters and packages containing cultural products.

When the General Department of Posts and Telecommunications establishes a foreign exchange postal office at a certain location, it must notify the Ministry of Culture and Information so that there can be coordinated organization and guidance at that location to fulfill the tasks according to the responsibilities defined by the state.

Based on the workload at each foreign exchange postal office, the culture and information sector will organize working units (rooms, teams) or appoint specialized staff to manage the export and import of cultural products, ensuring timely and efficient control over cultural products exported and imported via the postal service.

Depending on the floor space available at each foreign exchange postal office, the postal service will arrange workspaces for the cultural department. The cultural department may operate at a different location outside the postal office but must have clear signage necessary for public transactions.

Working equipment such as tables, chairs, cabinets, and machinery used by the cultural department shall be provided by the culture and information sector.

Domestic postal facilities will only accept letters and packages containing cultural products sent abroad after obtaining an export permit issued by the competent cultural and information authority according to the division of management by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

5. When postal offices jointly with customs handle the import procedures for letters and packages from abroad, if they find cultural products, they must transfer them to the cultural department to process the import procedures for cultural products.

Under normal conditions, the cultural department will retain cultural products from each letter or package for no more than 48 hours from the time the postal service transfers them until they are received back. In special cases, if further examination is required, the cultural department must return the cultural products to the postal service within seven days at the latest. If there are cultural products violating propaganda discipline or state regulations and need to be confiscated, the cultural department will prepare the necessary documents to transfer to the postal service to inform the recipient of the letter or package.

The postal service will only forward or deliver letters and packages containing cultural products to the recipient after obtaining an import permit from the cultural and information authority.

If the content of a letter or package includes cultural products, the postal service will hand over only the part containing cultural products to the cultural department, while the rest will be handled according to other cases.

Each time transferring cultural products to the cultural department for import procedures, the postal service must record in detail each type and each letter or package according to the prescribed form of the Ministry of Culture and Information. The cultural department when receiving for processing and the postal service when receiving returned cultural products must sign off carefully.

Due to the requirements of work, the postal sector and the culture and information sector need to closely cooperate to perform the tasks of exporting and importing letters and packages containing cultural products. Both sectors need to create favorable conditions for each other to fulfill their common tasks.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Staff members of both sectors when interacting with the public and foreigners must strictly follow the state's regulations on transaction systems with the public and the principles of foreign affairs work of the state.

Staff members of the cultural department and postal officers working at foreign exchange postal offices must conscientiously abide by the rules of the postal office. Whenever there are difficulties, both sides should discuss on the spirit of socialist cooperation. In case of disagreement, they should promptly report to higher authorities for advice on resolution.

Foreign exchange postal offices should hold monthly meetings between the postal service and the cultural department to review the implementation of this Circular.

AT This Circular takes effect from the date of signature, all previous provisions contrary to this Circular are abolished.

Pham Nien

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