New regulations coming into force as of November 11, 2017

1. Prohibition against sale of alcohol whose concentration is 15 degrees or over on the Internet

This is a noticeable regulation in the Government’s Decree No. 105/2017/ND-CP promulgated on September 14, 2017 on trade in alcohol.

According to this Decree, the following acts are prohibited from trading in alcohol:  

- Selling alcohol whose concentration is 15 degrees or over on the Internet (presently, sale of alcohol products on the Internet is prohibited regardless of their concentration);

- Selling alcohol to people under the age of 18, or selling alcohol by an automatic selling machine;

- Conducting advertising or promotion programs against regulations of law;

- Failing to obtain a license to trade in alcohol or trading alcohol inconsistently with the provisions stated in the license;

- Letting out or lending the license to trade in alcohol, etc.

2. Eligibility requirements for a license to retail tobacco products

The Government’s Decree No. 106/2017/ND-CP provides for amendments to the Government’s Decree No. 67/2013/ND-CP dated June 27, 2013 elaborating certain articles and measures for implementing the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control with respect of tobacco trading.

According to this Decree, the applicant for a license to retail tobacco products must satisfy all of the following eligibility requirements: 

- It must be a tobacco trader that is duly established under the laws of Vietnam;

- It must have a fixed and identified business location so as to ensure the satisfaction of technical and equipment requirements;

- It must be conformable with the Planning for tobacco trading network approved by a competent authority;

- There is a letter of introduction which is made by the tobacco distributor or the tobacco wholesaler and specifies the intended business location (the application does not require the sales contracts made by tobacco wholesale).

Additionally, the Decree No. 106/2017/ND-CP abrogates a requirement on the area of business location which must be 3m2 or above.

Licenses to retail tobacco products which have been issued in accordance with the Decree No. 67/2013/ND-CP will remain valid until their expiration date.

3. New fines for administrative violations against regulations on disaster preparedness

The Government’s Decree No. 104/2017/ND-CP introduces penalties for administrative violations against regulations on disaster preparedness, operation and protection of hydraulic structures and flood control systems.

According to this Decree, there are significant changes in the fines for certain administrative violations against regulations on disaster preparedness. To be specific:

- A fine ranging from VND 20,000,000 to VND 40,000,000 shall be imposed for requesting for an emergency medical service but failing to cooperate with the rescue team causing waste of time and resources of the rescue forces (this is a fine twice as much as the applicable one);

- A fine ranging from VND 25,000,000 to VND 40,000,000 shall be imposed for causing damage to disaster preparedness works (presently, the fine for this violation ranges from VND 20,000,000 to VND 30,000,000);

- A fine ranging from VND 5,000,000 to VND 10,000,000 shall be imposed for failure to give aid or provide information for rescue forces to search for and give aid to persons or boats, ships or vessels that are in danger (presently, the fine for this violation ranges from VND 3,000,000 to VND 5,000,000).

The Decree No. 104/2017/ND-CP also stipulates fines for administrative violations against regulations on operation and protection of hydraulic structures and flood control systems.

4. Types of social support facilities established with the Government's encouragement

On September 12, 2017, the Government promulgates the Decree No. 103/2017/ND-CP on establishment, organizational structure, operation, dissolution and management of social support facilities.

According to this Decree, domestic and foreign individuals and organizations are encouraged to establish social support facilities to take care of and provide social assistance for persons in such need. Establishment of the following types of social support facilities is encouraged:

- Social protection facilities for caring the elderly;

- Social protection facilities for caring children with special circumstances;

- Social protection facilities for caring people with disabilities;

- Social facilities for caring and rehabilitating people with mental health problems;

- General social protection facilities for caring social protection beneficiaries or persons in need of social assistance;

- Social work centers that provide advice or emergency care or social assistance for persons in such need with other necessities; 

- Other types of social support facilities as prescribed by laws.

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