On the morning of August 24, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Law on Publication, introducing new appraisal requirements for important and sensitive works and documents.

The appraisal process must adhere to professional standards, aligning with the manuscript's nature and content. It requires a comprehensive review of all related issues, supported by clear evaluations and conclusions, which then form the basis for publication plan registration.

Following printing, publishers are required to submit a deposit copy of the publication to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) at least 10 days before its release. For the specified category of works and documents, the MCST will conduct an appraisal and offer feedback before distribution.

This two-stage process mandates that publishers appraise manuscripts before registering their publication plans. Subsequently, the MCST will inspect and appraise the deposit copy of the publication before the book's official release.

A significant new provision, compared to the 2012 Law on Publication, is the requirement for manuscript appraisal concerning revolutionary history, national sovereignty, national security, national leaders, and national heroes.

The law also mandates that publishers conduct an appraisal before registering reprint plans if they identify any signs of prohibited content in certain categories of works. These categories include materials published before the August Revolution of 1945; those published between 1945 and 1954 in temporarily occupied territories; works published from 1954 to 30/4/1975 in southern Vietnam without authorization from the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam; or any materials originally published abroad.

The MCST is tasked with selecting deposit publications for review, inspection, and appraisal, and for addressing any detected violations.

Bui Thi Minh Hoai, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and delegates at Dien Hong Hall, National Assembly House. *Photo: Hoang Phong*.

Multi-platform publishing and media groups to be established

The law outlines a policy to establish key national publishing and media agencies, fostering the formation of multi-platform, multi-product publishing and media groups. The State plans to invest in developing publishing activities, electronic publication distribution, and artificial intelligence applications, while prioritizing land allocation for publishing operations.

The State will also commission, assign, or tender for the publication, printing, and distribution of books essential for political, national defense, security, external information, and other critical objectives. Printing facilities that invest in technological innovation, equipment modernization, and the adoption of green technology and circular economy principles will receive tax and credit incentives.

The law specifies that managing agencies authorized to establish publishing houses include: ministries, ministerial-level agencies, provincial People's Committees (UBND); central and provincial political organizations; and central and provincial socio-political organizations. If a provincial UBND does not establish a publishing house, the provincial cultural specialized agency may do so.

Additionally, certain central public non-business units; mass associations at the central level tasked by the Party and the State with directly creating scientific and academic works; and public higher education institutions under ministries or ministerial-level agencies are also permitted to establish publishing houses.

Joint publishing activities must adhere to laws governing publishing, intellectual property, cybersecurity, personal data protection, and state secrets. This ensures the legitimate rights and interests of all involved parties: participants, authors, copyright holders, related rights holders, and users.

The law takes effect from 1/3/2027. Separately, provisions on printing export publications take effect from 1/1/2029.

Vu Tuan