The Presidential Office on June 24 promulgated President Nguyen Minh Triet’s decision to issue four laws: the revised Law on Oil and Gas, the revised Publishing Law, the Law on Red Cross Activities and the revised Law on Drug Prevention and Control.

These laws will come into force in January 2009.

The revised Law on Oil and Gas adds more regulations on coal gas and those projects for coal gas exploitation that are on the list of projects that benefit from State investment incentives.

The law also adds more regulations on State management of oil and gas in line with administrative reform in order to create favourable conditions for the development of the oil and gas sector.

The law regulates that the Ministry of Trade and Industry is responsible to the Government for the management of oil and gas.

The revised Publishing Law features new contents regarding: registration of plans for new publications; information printed on published products; penalties for violations in publication, printing and distribution; granting business licenses for importing published material; and co-operating with foreign partners for distributing published materials.

The Law on Red Cross Activities has eight chapters and 34 articles.

It regulates activities of the Red Cross; mobilizing, receiving, managing and using capital sources for Red Cross activities; international co-operation in Red Cross activities; the Red Cross of Vietnam and the responsibilities of State offices, organizations and individuals participating in Red Cross activities.

The revised Law on Drug Prevention and Control adds to Article 13 the responsibility of those offices under the border guards, marine police and customs offices dedicated to interdiction and combating drug criminals.

It also regulates methods for drug users to enter at-home detoxification programmes or receive treatment in their local communities, If they do not volunteer for at-home treatment, they will be forced to quit using drugs at local community treatment centres. (VNA)