On November 12, 2024, the Government issued Decree No. 148/2024/ND-CP amending and supplementing several provisions of Decree No. 54/2019/ND-CP regulating karaoke and nightclub business operations. Noteworthy amendments include revisions to licensing authority and procedural processes as follows:
1. Authority and Responsibility for Licensing
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The Provincial People’s Committee (“PPC”) is designated as the sole authority responsible for issuing, amending, and revoking Business License.
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Additionally, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports is specified as the agency responsible for receiving and managing applications and certificates under the PPC's jurisdiction.
These amendments clarify the authority of each agency, enhancing consistency in administrative management and minimizing confusion regarding responsibilities among regulatory agencies.
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Licensing Procedures
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The appraisal timeline has been detailed and divided into specific stages:
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03 working days for document review and the establishment of the Appraisal Team.
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04 working days for the Appraisal Team to conduct on-site assessments and issue appraisal results.
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Following the appraisal results, the licensing authority must decide to grant or deny the license within 03 working days.
Under these new regulations, the minimum licensing process duration has been extended to 10 working days, compared to the previous 05 days. The detailed and specific allocation of responsibilities at each stage enhances the transparency of administrative procedures and reduces risks arising from superficial evaluations or poor coordination between authorities.
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The new decree also introduces a requirement to form an Appraisal Team to assess actual business conditions. The Appraisal Team may include up to 07 members, comprising representatives from relevant agencies (Police, Culture, Construction), ensuring a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation process.
