Hot policies take effect on November, 2023

* By 30% on reduction of land rental for 2023

On October 03, 2023, the Prime Minister hereby promulgates the Decision No. 25/2023/QD-TTg on reduction of land rental for 2023.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister decides to reduce payable (receivable) land rental by 30% for 2023 for land lessees such as organizations, units, enterprises, households and individuals directly leasing land from the State with annual land rental payments.

This regulation applies to land lessees ineligible for land rental exemption or reduction, land lessees whose land rental exemption or reduction period expires, and land lessees eligible for land rental reduction and other relevant laws.

Land rental reduction levels shall be calculated based on payable (receivable) land rental amounts for 2023 as specified by law.

In case a land surface lessee is entitled to the prescribed land rental reduction, and/or the reduction of expenses for compensation and ground clearance, a 30% reduction of land rental or water surface rental shall be calculated based on the land rental amount he/she/it has to pay (if any) after being eligible for the prescribed current land rental reduction and/or compensation and ground clearance deduction.

Not to reduce land rentals based on the remaining land rental amounts of the years preceding 2023 and late-payment interests (if any).

The Decision No. 25/2023/QD-TT takes effect on November 20, 2023.

* Charge for registration of secured transactions from November 15, 2023

On September 28, 2023, the Ministry of Finance issues the Circular No. 61/2023/TT-BTC providing for the rates and collection, remittance, management and use of charges in registration of secured transactions

Accordingly, the Circular provides the fee for user code for one-time self-search for data search according to basic criteria of VND 10,000/search. The fee for provision of user code for secured transaction database for data search according to basic criteria, advanced criteria and data extraction by the registration agency is VND 2,000/search.

Other charges have no changes.

No.	Description	Fee
1	Secured transaction registration fees
a	Initial registration of secured transactions for movable property (except for securities registered with Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC), aircrafts), sea-going ships, annual plants and temporary works	80.000 VND/application
b	Registration of changes to registered security interests	60.000 VND/application
c	Registration of notice of realization of collateral, registration of changes to notice of realization of collateral	30.000 VND/application
d	Deregistration of security interests, deregistration of notice of realization of collateral	20.000 VND/application
dd	Issuance of a copy of a certificate of secured transaction registration	25.000 VND/application
2	Fees for provision of information on secured transactions for movable property (except for securities registered with Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation (VSDC), aircrafts), sea-going ships, annual plants and temporary works	30.000 VND/application
3	Fees for provision of user code for secured transaction database
a	Provision of user code for one-time self-search
-	Data search according to basic criteria	10.000 VND/search
-	Data search according to basic criteria, advanced criteria and data extraction by the registration agency	2.000 VND/transaction
b	Provision of user code for regular self-search
-	Data search according to basic criteria	- 300.000 VND/customer/year for user code issued before July 01 every year. - 150.000 VND/customer/year for user code issued after July 01 every year
-	Data search according to basic criteria, advanced criteria and data extraction by the registration agency	2.000 VND/transaction

Charge-collecting organizations include:

- The Vietnam Maritime Administration under the Ministry of Transport or the Vietnam Maritime Administration’s Branches or Maritime

- The Transaction and Asset Registration Center of the National Registration Agency for Secured Transactions under the Ministry of Justice

- The National Registration Agency for Secured Transactions

- The agency competent to grant codes for use of the database on secured transactions

Circular No. 61/2023/TT-BTC takes effect on November 15, 2023

* Condition for notarial apprenticeship completion from November 20, 2023

Condition for notarial apprenticeship completion is prescribed in the Circular No. 08/2023/TT-BTP dated October 02, 2023 of the Ministry of Justice on notarial apprenticeship.

In accordance with the Article 12, within 15 days from the end of the apprenticeship period, the apprentice must submit an application for recognition of completion of the apprenticeship, accompanied by the apprenticeship performance report and Apprenticeship journal (certified copy or copy attached with the original for comparison) to the Department of Justice where the apprentice is registered.

Within 10 days from the date of receipt of the application, the Department of Justice shall issue a decision to recognize the completion of the notarial apprenticeship; in case of refusal, a written response must be provided clearly stating the reason.

An apprentice is recognized as completing their notarial apprenticeship when they meet the following requirements:

- The apprentice meets the apprenticeship requirements and does not fall into the cases in which apprenticeship registration is not permitted;

- The notary mentor is qualified to mentor the apprentice and is not subject to change during the mentorship process;

- The apprentice completes the apprenticeship period; submits an Apprenticeship performance report and an Apprenticeship journal on time; meets the requirements specified in this Circular and the attached forms; and fully performs other obligations of an apprentice.

However, If a person is recognized for completing an apprenticeship and is later found ineligible, the Department of Justice shall cancel the recognition.

A person whose apprenticeship performance is canceled may re-register for apprenticeship if they meet the apprenticeship requirements specified in this Circular.

* Amend, supplement and annul a number of legal documents relating to food safety

On September 25, 2023, the Ministry of Health issues the Circular No. 17/2023/TT-BYT amending, supplementing and annulling a number of legal documents relating to food safety issued by the Minister of Health. Below are some remarkable contents of this Circular:

- Amending and supplementing regulations on flavorings for use in food. Accordingly, flavorings for use in food include flavorings in one of the following lists:

- Flavorings assessed and determined by JECFA to be safe in estimated intakes or acceptable daily intakes (ADI);

- Flavorings generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the United States’ Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA);

- Flavorings for use in food of the European Union issued by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Besides, adding the maximum use levels of 18 food additives in food that have not been regulated according to CODEX STAN 192-1995 standard (2018) defined in Appendix 1 issued together with this Circular.

Health claims for an additional nutrient shall only be implemented if such nutrient’s content in the food reaches at least 10% of RNI with concrete scientific evidence.

Health claims for an additional nutrient without RNI as specified shall be presented in the product label if such ingredient’s content reaches at least 10% of the usage amount of that ingredient stated in scientific evidence.

LuatVietnam