New policies take effect from October 2023

Examination, certification of imported cars’ technical safety

The Government promulgated Decree 60/2023/ND-CP (Decree 60) regulating the examination and certification of technical safety and environmental protection for automobiles and spare parts imported under some international agreements to which Viet Nam is a party.

The aforesaid agreements means the EU-Viet Nam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and UK-Viet Nam free trade agreement (UVFTA).

The Decree shall take effect for spare parts from October 1, 2023, and for automobiles from August 1, 2025.

Decree 60 is applied to the importers and agencies, organizations, and individuals related to the management, examination, and certification of technical safety and environmental protection for automobiles and parts imported under the agreements.

Within five working days from the date of receipt of the recall notice from the manufacturer or from the Inspection Body, the importer must notify in writing to the sales agent requesting them not to sell the motor vehicles that are subject to recall but have not been repaired.

Within ten working days from the date of receipt of the recall notice from the manufacturer or from the Inspection Body, the importer must send the Inspection Body a notice stating: the reasons for technical defects; remedial measures taken; number of motor vehicles to be recalled; suitable recall plan.

Credit policy for prisoners finishing imprisonment sentences

Decision 22/2023/QD-TTg on credit loans for people who have finished their imprisonment sentences shall come into effect from October 10, 2023.

Accordingly, the borrowers are those who have finished their imprisonment sentences and have been granted a certificate of prison sentence completion as regulated in the Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments and amnesty recipients who have been granted an amnesty certificate in accordance with the Law on Special Amnesty.

Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, and business households employing laborers who have finished their imprisonment sentences shall also be beneficiaries of this credit policy.

A prisoner who completes his/her imprisonment sentence shall be allowed to get up to VND4 million (US$168) loan per month to cover vocational training expenses and up to VND100 million (US$4,200) to start a business.

For production facilities that create jobs for prisoners who complete their imprisonment sentences, the maximum loan shall be VND2 billion (US$84,000) a project and not exceed VND100 million (US$4,200) per employee.

Fees for registration and issuance of road vehicle license plates

Circular 60/2023/TT-BTC regulating fees for registration and issuance of license plates for road motor vehicles takes effect from October 22, 2023.

Under the circular, the following organizations and individuals shall be exempted from registration fee:

First, diplomatic representative agencies, consular agencies, and representative agencies of international organizations belonging to the United Nations system.

Second, they are diplomatic officers, consular officers, administrative and technical staff of foreign diplomatic missions and consulates, members of international organizations under the United Nations system and members of the United Nations. Their family members are not Vietnamese citizens.

Third, other foreign organizations and individuals (representative agencies of international intergovernmental organizations not belonging to the United Nations system, representative agencies of non-governmental organizations, delegations of international organizations , members of other agencies and organizations) specified in international commitments and international treaties to which Viet Nam is a signatory.

Fourth, three-wheeled motorbikes designed specifically for people with disabilities./.