Art. 5. General provisions of law or statute apply in all matters not dealt with in provisions of this Act or special legislation enacted by virtue of this Act. Except as otherwise laid down in this Act or elsewhere in law, foreign nationals are equated with Swedish citizens. Transitional provisions Transitional provisions relating to 1976 amendments 1. This Act comes into force on 1 January 1978. 2. The new provisions do not apply to written matter duplicated by stencil, photocopying or other similar technical process and published before the Act comes into force. Transitional provisions relating to 1998 amendments 1. This Act comes into force on 1 January 1999. 2. Older provisions shall apply to technical recordings disseminated before the Act comes into force. 3. The newer provisions contained in Chapter 1, Article 7, and Chapter 5, Articles 5 and 7, shall apply also to certificates of no legal impediment to publication issued before the Act comes into force. Contrary to the provisions of Chapter 5, Article 5, paragraph four, sentence one, such certificates shall be valid for a period of ten years from the date on which the Act comes into force. 4. In cases affecting the portrayal of children in pornographic pictures, older provisions shall apply if criminal proceedings have been instituted before the Act comes into force. 244