7 outstanding policies effective from November 2018

1. Business households and individuals are provided with free electronic invoices.

Decree 119/2018/ND-CP was issued on September 12, 2019, specifically regulating the subjects that tax authorities provide free electronic invoice services, including:

- Business households and individuals, except for business households and individuals with previous year's revenue of 3 billion VND or more in the fields of agriculture, forestry, industry, construction or 10 billion VND or more in the fields of trade and services;

- Small and medium-sized innovative start-up enterprises and business households and individuals converting into enterprises within 12 months from the date of establishment of the enterprise;

- Small and medium enterprises, cooperatives, and individuals doing business in difficult or extremely difficult areas;

- Other small and medium enterprises as requested by the Provincial People's Committee, except for enterprises operating in economic zones, export processing zones, industrial parks, and high-tech zones;

This Decree takes effect from November 1, 2018.

2. Fines up to 200 million VND for illegal multi-level marketing

Decree 141/2018/ND-CP was issued by the Government on October 8, 2018; according to this Decree, a fine of VND 80 - 100 million is applied to organizations that commit one of the following illegal multi-level marketing acts:

- Requiring others to deposit or pay a certain amount of money to sign a contract to participate in multi-level marketing;

- Requiring others to buy a certain quantity of goods in order to sign a contract to participate in multi-level marketing;

- Allowing multi-level marketing participants to receive money or other economic benefits from introducing others to participate in multi-level marketing activities, not from buying or selling goods of those introduced people...

The fine is double the above fine if the violation is committed in two or more provinces or cities.

The Decree takes effect from November 25, 2018.

3. Power plants with capacity up to 30MW are allowed to participate in the electricity market.

This is the content stipulated in Circular No. 28/2018/TT-BCT promulgating specific regulations on the operation of the competitive electricity market.

Specifically, the unit owning a power plant with an installed capacity of up to 30MW, connected to the grid with a voltage of 110kV or higher is entitled to participate in the electricity market. The unit must complete the registration documents as well as prepare the infrastructure to be able to supply electricity. For power plants with an operating license and an installed capacity greater than 30MW, they must participate in the electricity market within 30 days from the date of commercial operation.

In case a power plant fails to maintain an installed capacity greater than 30MW for a consecutive year, it will be forced to terminate its participation in the electricity market.

The Circular takes effect from November 15, 2018.

4. Three types of functional foods for children must have their prices declared.

On September 12, 2018, the Ministry of Health issued Circular 22/2018/TT-BYT regulating the List of functional foods for children under 6 years old subject to price declaration.

This category includes 3 types of functional foods: Health protection foods; Medical nutritional foods; Supplemental foods, including nutritional products for children up to 36 months old.

The above list is the basis for agencies to implement price management according to the provisions of law.

Before July 1, 2019, the Provincial People's Committee must post the entire list of products that have been granted a Certificate of Product Declaration Registration by the provincial food safety management agency or have been self-declared by local organizations and individuals.

This Circular takes effect from November 1, 2018.

5. Seven cases of people's credit funds having their licenses revoked

According to Circular 23/2018/TT-NHNN, there are 7 cases where the license of a people's credit fund must be revoked, including:

- The Fund voluntarily requests dissolution when it is able to pay off all debts and other financial obligations;

- The Fund's license application contains fraudulent information to qualify for a license;

- The fund does not operate in accordance with the provisions of the license;

- The Fund seriously violates regulations on limits and safety ratios in operations;

- The Fund does not implement or does not fully implement the handling decision of the State Bank branch to ensure safety in banking operations;

- Fund is divided, merged, consolidated, bankrupt;

- The fund's term of operation expires without an extension or the extension is not approved by the State Bank branch.

This Circular takes effect from November 1, 2018.

6. Voluntary blood donations receive medical examination and treatment services as gifts.

Support policies for blood donors, including paid blood donations and voluntary blood donations without payment, will be applied according to Circular 20/2018/TT-BYT of the Ministry of Health.

Specifically, peoplevoluntary whole blood donationbe able to choose to receive gifts of medical examination and treatment services instead of only receiving gifts in kind as before. The minimum value of the gift is as follows:

- 100,000 VND for one blood unit of 250ml volume;

- 150,000 VND for one blood unit of 350ml volume;

- 180,000 VND for one unit of blood with a volume of 450ml.

The head of the blood receiving unit is responsible for publicly announcing the list of services and prices of each service for blood donors to choose from.

The Circular takes effect from November 1, 2018.

7. Kindergartens in the city have a minimum area of ​​8m2²/young

This is one of the contents stipulated in Decree 135/2018/ND-CP

Specifically, kindergartens, preschools and nurseries must be located in residential areas that ensure regulations on safety and environmental hygiene.

Regarding construction area, the above schools must ensure a minimum average area of ​​12m2.²for one child for the plain, midland and 8m areas²per child for urban, town, mountainous and island areas.

For independent nursery groups and kindergarten classes, the requirement is to have qualified teachers and a room for childcare and nurturing of at least 1.5m2.² for one child, has a play area, has a fence and a gate to protect children's safety; has a mat or rug to play on, a bed and blankets, pillows, and mosquito nets for sleeping...

The Decree takes effect from November 20, 2018.