Rajah & Tann Regional Round-Up your snapshot of key legal developments in Asia Issue 1 - Jan/Feb/Mar 2018

	New Decree 15/2018/ND-CP Guiding the Law on Food Safety On 2 February 2018, Decree 15/2018/ND-CP guiding the Law on Food Safety came into force. The new Decree supersedes Decree 38/2012/ND-CP. Among other changes, the new Decree now provides greater clarity as to when a food establishment / business may be exempt from obtaining a Food Safety Certificate. These establishments and businesses include small-scale food retail establishments, mobile food manufacturers and sellers, sellers of pre-packaged food and restaurants within hotels). New Decree 09/2018/ND-CP Governing Activities in the Sale and Purchase of Goods (and related activities) of Foreign-Invested Enterprises in Vietnam On 15 January 2018, the Government issued Decree 09/2018/ND-CP ("Decree") to replace the decade-old Decree 23/2007/ND-CP, which notably prescribed regulations and requirements on foreign-invested companies engaged in trading and trading-related activities. The Decree came into effect on the same date. Perhaps the most notable change introduced by the new Decree is the abolishment of the requirement by foreign-invested trading companies to obtain a Business License when they engage in export, import and whole distribution activities (except for certain restricted goods). The Decree specifies that the following business services are subject to the Business License requirement for foreign-invested companies: (i) retail distribution; (ii) logistics services not committed for market opening by Vietnam; (iii) rental of goods; (iv) commercial promotion; (v) commercial intermediary services; (vi) e-commerce services; and (vii) auctioning services. Please note that whilst the information in this Update is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as a substitute for specific professional advice.	Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers Ho Chi Minh City Office Saigon Centre, Level 13, Unit 2&3 65 Le Loi Boulevard, District 1 HCMC, Vietnam Hanoi Office Lotte Center Hanoi - East Tower Level 30, Unit 3003, 54 Lieu Giai Street., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam http://vn.rajahtannasia.com Contacts: Dr Chau Huy Quang Managing Partner D +84 28 3821 2382 F +84 28 3520 8206 quang.chau@rajahtannlct.com Pham Manh Dzung Partner D +84 28 3821 2673 F +84 28 3821 2685 dzung.pham@rajahtannlct.com Vu Thi Que Partner/Chairwoman D +84 28 3821 2382 F +84 28 3520 8206 que.vu@rajahtannlct.com Lim Wee Hann Partner D +65 62320606 wee.hann.lim@rajahtann.com Rajah & Tann Asia is a network of legal practices based in Asia. Member firms are independently constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local legal requirements. Services provided by a member firm are governed by the terms of engagement between the member firm and the client. This update is solely intended to provide general information and does not provide any advice or create any relationship, whether legally binding or otherwise. Rajah & Tann Asia and its member firms do not accept, and fully disclaim, responsibility for any loss or damage which may result from accessing or relying on this update.