INTER-MINISTERIAL CIRCULAR

ON THE IMPORT OF PAPER IN 1997

Pursuant to Decision No.28-TTg of January 13, 1997 of the Prime Minister on commodity policy and the 1997 import-export control; and Document No.674-BKH/TMDV of January 31, 1997 of the Ministry of Planning and Investment on the 1997 import quotas,
The Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Industry jointly provide the following guidances on the import of paper in 1997:

I. PROVISIONS ON IMPORT:

1. To forbid the import of the following types of paper that have been sufficiently produced in the country:

1.1. Newsprint

1.2. Types of paper used for writing and printing, including those with such trade names as offset, woodfree, photocopy and other trade names which have the fixed quantity of from 50g/m2 to 80g/m2.

1.3. Packing paper, including cardboard and different types of flat carton with the following principal technical norms:

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- Ring crush: 14 kgf/cm2 or less

- Tensile breaking length: 3,600 m or less

2. For types of paper that have not yet been sufficiently produced in the country, to allow the additional import of around 20,000 tons:

Coated, covered or glossed paper (couche paper).

The Ministry of Trade shall assign quotas to enterprises having import-export permits in the suitable business line according to the above set quotas.

In case of necessity, the ministries and branches shall consider supplements to the quotas to balance the supply and demand.

3. For other types of paper, enterprises having permits for the import and export thereof shall be entitled to import paper according to their production and business demands and shall comply with the import procedures at the Customs Offices, without having to consult the Ministry of Trade.

4. Other provisions:

4.1. "High-quality printing paper" as mentioned in the Trade Ministrys previous document on the assignment of quotas, shall be handled as follows:

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- Couche paper of different types shall be imported according to the assigned quotas (regarding "high-quality printing paper" Item) and the effective time-limit stated in the previous quota-assigning document of the Ministry of Trade.

4.2. The quota for carton duplex paper, stated in the previous quota- assigning document of the Ministry of Trade shall no longer apply.

II. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS:

These stipulations shall replace the earlier stipulations of the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Industry on the import of paper in 1997. The other stipulations which are contrary to these stipulations are now annulled.

The ministries, ministerial-level agencies, agencies attached to the Government, Peoples Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government and the central bodies of mass organizations are requested to distribute this Circular to the enterprises under their management for implementation; and at the same time, report to the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Industry on issues arising in the course of implementation for timely and suitable readjustment.

This inter-ministerial Circular takes effect from the date of its signing until March 31, 1998.

FOR THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY
VICE MINISTER




Le Huy Con

FOR THE MINISTER OF TRADE
VICE MINISTER




Nguyen Xuan Quang