New regulations coming into force from the end of April, 2017

1. Reserve of study results at college level

On March 13, 2017, Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs promulgates the Circular No. 09/2017/TT-BLDTBXH on application of training programs at intermediate and college levels according to year base or upon methods of accumulation of modules or credits, and regulations on testing, examination and graduation assessment.

According to the said Circular, a learner may interrupt from his/her studies and reserve his/her study results in the following cases:

- The learner is assigned by regulatory bodies to perform security – national defense tasks;

- The learner submits the certificate granted by the health facility where he/she receive medical examination and treatment or disability certificate (if the learner suspends his/her studies because of his/her health);

- The learner is incurring disciplinary measure of fixed-term suspension of studies;

- The learner is liable to criminal prosecution but is pending the final conclusion from regulatory body or the regulatory body concluded that the learner is not subject to the disciplinary measure of expulsion;

- The learner may interrupt his/her studies because of other reasons provided that he/she must complete at least one semester at school and is not subject to the expulsion.

The Circular No. 09/2017/TT-BLDTBXH shall come into force as from April 26, 2017.
 
2. Audit methods applied to investment projects

Decision No. 02/2017/QD-KTNN on audit process applied to investment and construction projects shall come into force as of April 27, 2017.

This Decision introduces certain audit methods applied to investment projects in addition to audit methods prescribed in the Audit Process of the State Audit Office of Vietnam. To be specific:

- Employing/ consulting specialist, evaluation of quality of building works, asset valuation, inspection of job site, etc. (specify scope and contents); - Verification or collation with a third party such as project management board, contractor, enterprise, economic organization, etc. (specify whether it is verification or collation, violations and contents verified or collated);

- And certain methods of auditing important and complicated contents (specify the method and procedures applied to collect sufficient audit evidence).

3. Procedures for ships entering Vietnam’s territory applied as from July 01, 2017

As of July 01, 2017, a declarant whose electronic signature has been registered on the electronic border guard system portal or the national single-window system portal must not submit the following documents to the port border guards when carrying out procedures for ship entering, exiting or in transit through Vietnam:

- General declaration;

- The list of seafarers;

- The list of passengers (if any);

- Declaration of dangerous goods, weapons and/or explosives (if any);

- Declaration of stowaways (if any).

The said regulations are introduced in the Circular No. 49/2017/TT-BQP on guidance for implementation of Decision No. 10/2016/QD-TTg on electronic seaport border guard procedures (coming into force as from April 2017, 21).

4. Amendments to the list of permitted plant protection substances

The Circular No. 06/2017/TT-BNNPTNT on amendments to the Circular No. 03/2016/TT-BNNPTNT promulgating the list of permitted or banned plant protection substances in Vietnam and HS Codes thereof shall come into force as from April 25, 2017.

The following plant protection substances which have been officially registered shall be added to the List of permitted plant protection substances in Vietnam:

- Pesticides: 2 active ingredients, 2 trade names;

- Fungicides: 3 active ingredients, 3 trade names;

- Herbicides: 2 active ingredients, 2 trade names;

- Rodenticides: 1 active ingredient, 1 trade name;

- Plant-growth regulators: 1 active ingredient, 1 trade name.

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