POLICIES TAKE EFFECT IN MAY

From May 5, acts of delivering advertisement brochures, if causing negative impacts on social and traffic order and safety, shall be fined from VND 200,000 to VND 500,000.

The Government on March 20, 2017 issued Decree No. 28/2017/ND-CP on amendments to Decree No. 131/2013/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violation against copyrights and related rights and Decree No. 158/2013/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations against regulations on culture, sports, tourism and advertising.

Under the new Decree, acts of delivering advertisement brochures, if causing negative impacts on social and traffic order and safety, shall be fined from VND 200,000 to VND 500,000.

A fine from VND 5-10 million shall also be applied to individuals whose products are printed on the aforesaid advertisement brochures (only if the delivery of such brochures cause negative impacts on social and traffic order and safety).

The Decree will come into effect since May 5.

According to Decree No. 33/2017/ND-CP, the Government will impose fines ranging from VND250 million (US$11,125) to VND2 billion (US$89,000) on administrative violations in mineral and water resource sectors.

Administrative violations in the water resource sector involve violations in inspection, planning, surveying, exploitation and use of water resources; violation in reservoirs and reservoir operations; and violations in water resources protection among others.

Violations in the minerals sector include breaking regulations related to surveying and exploring minerals, mineral exploitation auction, using geological inspection information and violations of benefits to localities and residents where minerals are exploited.

Offenders can be slapped with additional penalties, depending on the scale of violation. The additional penalties include the withdrawal of licenses on surveying, exploitation and use of minerals and water resources from between one and 24 months; suspension of project operations from one to 12 months; and confiscation of exhibits and mineral specimen.

Culprits will also have to take measures to undo the effects of the violations on pollution and environment.

The Decree will take effect since May 20.

The use of any banned substance in animal husbandry and aquaculture shall be fined from VND70 million to VND 100 million, according to Government’s Decree No. 41/2017/ND-CP scheduled to take effect since May 20.

Individuals and organizations using banned substances in animal husbandry and aquaculture shall also be subjected to 6-12 month suspension instead of the current 1-3 month suspension.

The transport, trading, collection, storage, processing of animal products containing banned substances shall be fined between VND 40 million to VND 50 million.

Source: VGP