Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Policies on the management and provision of radio and television services, conditions on setting up representative offices, and regulations on speed limits on national roads are among those that will take effect in March.
Decree 06/2016/ND-CP, which comes into force on March 15, covers the management, provision and use of radio and television services.
Under the decree, the content broadcast by foreign broadcasting channels on paid radio and television systems in Vietnam must not violate Vietnamese cultural norms or the country's Press Law. The number of foreign broadcasting channels should not exceed 30 percent of the total channels provided by each paid system.
It is necessary for the programmes to own or use copyrighted content to be aired or televised and obtain certificates of registration for service provision on paid radio and television.
Government Decree 07/2016/ND-CP, which will be effective from March 10, specifies the rights and responsibilities of foreign firms establishing representative offices and branches in Vietnam.
A foreign trader will not be allowed to open more than one representative office or branch bearing the same name in the same city or province.
To open a foreign representative office in Vietnam, foreign traders must have been active for at least one year from the date the office is established or registered. In cases where business registration certificates or equivalent documents of foreign firms regulate the operating duration, they must have at least one year of validity from the date of submission of the application.
All activities of representative offices must be in conformity with the country's commitments to international treaties. In case operations of a representative office do not fit such commitments, it will need approval from an authorised minister or leaders of ministerial-level agencies.
Requirements for the opening of foreign branches in Vietnam are similar to foreign representatives, but foreign traders must have operated for at least five years from the date of establishment or registration of the branch.
Another regulation that came into effect on March 1 is the Transport Ministry's circular on speed limits for vehicles.
Under the Circular 91/2015/TT-BGTVT, the maximum speed limit in residential areas will be increased by 10kph.
Accordingly, a 60kph speed limit will be applicable to two-way roads with a centre divider, or one-way roads with at least two lanes for motor vehicles. The restriction for two-way roads without a centre divider or one-way roads with only one lane for motor vehicles will be 50kph.
The circular also stipulates that speed limits will now vary based on the type of road, rather than the type of vehicle.-VNA
