This Q&A chapter analyzes legal issues pertaining to Vietnam’s regulatory framework in the life sciences industry. Ranging from the quality of national healthcare, manufacturing authorization, marketing, and pricing of medicinal products, to the intellectual property surrounding each product and the scope of product liability law in this industry, this Q&A chapter provides answers to the most important legal questions faced by life sciences companies. This detailed and succinctly written chapter discusses the impact of key legislation and regulatory powers.

In recent years, the Thai FDA has made large-scale efforts to tighten its budget and escalate its standards of scrutiny. In response to these changes, this article provides insight into the practicability of Thailand’s regulatory framework governing the life sciences industry.

A person’s debts do not come to an end just because he or she has died. After the debtor has passed away, the creditor is entitled to seek repayment of the debt from the debtor’s estate. Some debtors have life insurance under which the insurer will pay compensation to the beneficiaries stated in the policy, the debtor’s heirs where no beneficiaries are specified in the policy and, in certain cases, the debtor’s creditors.Under the Civil and Commercial Code of Thailand, creditors are entitled to be repaid from insurance benefits in three specific circumstances, as detailed below.

With a total population of approximately 600 million, the combined economy of the 10 nations comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ranks as the ninth largest in the world. To transform ASEAN into a single market and production base that is highly competitive and fully integrated into the global economy, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is set to be realized on December 31, 2015. Most ASEAN countries must comply with the AEC Blueprint, which sets out guidelines for ASEAN to achieve its goal of becoming a single market by 2015.

No one in their right mind would buy counterfeit medicines, chemicals, or car parts, yet there is a dark trade in these dangerous items in Asia—and it is on the increase. A recent case in March, as reported by the Bangkok Post, is a clear example of what must be tackled: “Thailand’s food chain and livestock industry faces a risk from imports of counterfeit glutaraldehyde, an organic compound used in disinfecting poultry and swine facilities” where up to 50% of the products found were fake.

Vietnam is considered to be an attractive market for online gaming in Asia. With more than 13 million gamers, Vietnam is becoming a popular destination for investors in the online gaming industry. For gaming clients (games installed on computers and played on online) only, the expected market value for 2012 is VND 5.6 trillion (approximately US$269 million).

This article first appeared on WTR Daily, part of World Trademark Review, in February 2013. For further information, please go to www.worldtrademarkreview.com.

Published by Multilaw in association with Thomson Reuters, Media, Advertising, and Entertainment Law Throughout the World introduces international readers to the laws governing media, advertising, entertainment, and art in 45 countries, including Vietnam. The Vietnam chapter in the 2013 edition outlines the following issues: