A number of new policy effective from February 2024: Regulation on road usage fees from 01/02/2024. (Photo: VGP)

1. Regulation on road usage fees from 01/02/2024: On December 13, 2023, the Government issued Decree No. 90/2023/NĐ-CP on the rates, collection regime, submission, exemption, management, and use of road usage fees. Accordingly, the road usage fee rates are stipulated in Appendix I issued with Decree No. 90/2023/NĐ-CP.

Road usage is exempt for fee payers with the following types of vehicles:

• Ambulances.

• Firefighting vehicles.

• Specialized vehicles serving funerals.

• Specialized vehicles serving national defense.

• Specialized vehicles of units within the organizational system of the police force.

For details, refer to Decree No. 90/2023/NĐ-CP, which takes effect from February 1, 2024.

2. Components of the application dossier for counterfeit money appraisal

On December 8, 2023, the Government issued Decree No. 87/2023/NĐ-CP, regulating the prevention of counterfeit money and the protection of Vietnamese currency.

Accordingly, entities and individuals requiring the appraisal of counterfeit or suspicious money to determine its authenticity must compile a set of documents for appraisal and submit it directly to the appraisal agency of the Ministry of Public Security or the State Bank of Vietnam.

The components of the application dossier for counterfeit money appraisal include:

• A request for the appraisal of counterfeit or suspicious money using Form No. 03 in the Appendix issued with Decree No. 87/2023/NĐ-CP.

• The specimen, which is the counterfeit or suspicious money to be appraised.

For more details, refer to Decree No. 87/2023/NĐ-CP, which takes effect from February 2, 2024.

3. Procedure for testing wastewater samples by the People's Police force

On December 18, 2023, the Minister of Public Security issued Circular No. 71/2023/TT-BCA on the regulations for environmental testing of wastewater by the People's Police force. According to this circular, the procedure for testing wastewater samples by the People's Police force is outlined as follows:

• The testing unit, upon receiving wastewater samples for testing, must assess the samples and review the testing request to determine its compatibility with the testing capabilities.

• Testing officers, based on specified parameters and testing methods, prepare suitable equipment, tools, chemicals, and materials to carry out the testing.

• Testing officers conduct the testing according to the established procedure for each specific method.

• Upon completion of the wastewater sample testing, testing officers are responsible for preparing a testing report using the Environmental Testing Report template in the laboratory and providing a conclusion on environmental testing using the designated template.

The remaining portion of the sample after testing is stored according to quality control regulations and environmental sample management regulations. The duration for storing tested wastewater samples is 30 days from the completion of testing, unless otherwise requested.

Circular No. 71/2023/TT-BCA takes effect from February 1, 2024.