Decision No. 95/2009/QD-TTg On Prohibiting the Production, Importation, Storage, Transportation, Sale, Ignition, and Release of "Sky Lanterns"

Pursuant to …;

On Prohibiting the Production, Importation, Storage, Transportation, Sale, Burning, and Release of "Sky Lanterns"

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting dated June 29, 2001;

Pursuant to Decree No. 35/2003/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2003 of the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting;

1. To fully exploit and effectively utilize the potential, infrastructure system, and position of the Region, with Ho Chi Minh City as the leading force, to create a driving force for comprehensive development in the fields of culture, family, physical education and sports, and tourism, thereby promoting the cultural market, physical education and sports activities, and tourism throughout the country and other localities.

DECISION:

Article 1. It is strictly prohibited for all organizations and individuals to produce, import, store, transport, sell, burn, and release "sky lanterns" throughout the country.

Article 2. Responsibilities of Ministries and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism together with the Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies to guide the implementation of this Decision; study and propose administrative penalty measures for acts of producing, importing, storing, transporting, selling, burning, and releasing "sky lanterns."

2. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs, relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to strengthen public awareness campaigns through mass media about this Decision so that the people understand and strictly comply with it.

3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with the Central Committee of the Communist Youth of Vietnam and relevant agencies to educate young people, teenagers, students, and trainees about the dangers of burning and releasing "sky lanterns," actively participating in mobilizing society to implement this Decision.

4. People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall, based on their assigned functions and tasks, be responsible for managing, inspecting, detecting, and handling violations related to the production, importation, storage, transportation, sale, burning, and release of "sky lanterns" in accordance with the law.

Article 3. Rewards and Penalties for Violations

1. Individuals who discover and prevent the production, importation, storage, sale, transportation, burning, and release of "sky lanterns" will be rewarded according to the law.

2. Organizations and individuals committing violations of the prohibition on producing, importing, storing, selling, transporting, burning, and releasing "sky lanterns" will be subject to penalties under the law.

Article 4. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Decision takes effect from September 15, 2009.

Article 5. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of agencies under the Government, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for implementing this Decision./.