Printing firms await legal overhaul

Accordingly, after two years of enforcement, Decree 60/2014/ND-CP on printing business is being listed by the government among the legal documents to be reviewed and amended this year.

Nguyen Van Dong, chairman of Vietnam Printing Association, said that they will soon work with the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) that was assigned to preside over reviewing and revising Decree 60, and the next step might be sending a report to the Government Office to clarify printing businesses’ proposals.

Dong and other association members have constantly been calling upon authorised government agencies to review and amend Decree 60 since its entering into force in November 2014, claiming it incorporates regulations hindering printing business’ performance.

“We worked with the ministries of Justice and Planning and Investment as well as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and received support from them. We also worked with the Legislation Department of the Ministry of Information and Communications on the irrationality of certain business conditions in Decree 60. However, nothing has changed until now,” Dong said.

Dong cites one example that Decree 60 requires the leaders of printing firms to show certification granted by the MIC that they have finished refresher courses on printing business management.

“Since the Decree took effect, this regulation has been causing losses to firms. Each trainee has to pay VND5 million ($230) for a course lasting only several days. The total expense is significant, given that there are now about 3,000 printing firms.

“In addition, the course only provides general knowledge about the Publishing Law and nothing truly significant, wasting the time of business leaders,” Dong commented.

The government’s newly-released Resolution 19-2017, which presents measures to improve the business environment and national competitiveness in 2017 with vision to 2020, also proposes removal of a regulation on granting license for import of specialised printing machines in Decree 60.

According to Dau Anh Tuan, head of VCCI’s Legal Department, before Decree 60 came into force, import of printing machines, except colour photocopiers, did not require licenses.

From 2007 to 2011, printing machine import had gone smoothly, so it proves unnecessary to restrict imports through licensing procedures.

“Controlling the import of printing equipment into Vietnam to ensure quality is unnecessary and is demanded by businesses themselves,” Tuan remarked.

Resolution 19-2017 has proposed the MIC to review and amend Decree 60 to annul the regulations that restrict companies’ freedom.