The Commission of Audit concluded the Performance Audit report “Government departments” publications management” where it presents the findings and opinions and suggestions resulting from the audit it conducted on the publications with higher risk launched by Cultural Institute (named hereafter as IC according to Portuguese abbreviation) and by Municipal Affairs Institute (named hereafter as IACM according to Portuguese abbreviation), which comprises books, programmes, posters, congratulations cards, envelopes for lai si, table calendars (and others types), as well as different materials for promotional events. Globally, the Commission of Audit verified that the public departments don’t dedicate much attention to the publishing planning, resulting in a too high number of copies or in too luxurious books. The Commission of Audit suggests the public services should justify the number of copies and the publications specifications with its real and concrete needs and with the cost-benefits, seeking this way not to waste resources.During the audit, the Commission of Audit verified that IC had no written instructions regulating its editorial activity, while those of the IACM should be completed and enforced. In the period from 2000 to 2006, IC and IACM, together, held more than 130 thousands copies in stock, which represented over 5 millions patacas of costs. They also ordered excessive quantities of congratulations cards, envelopes for lai si, fai chun, table calendars and of other types, courtesy objects and material for promotions, without observing pre-defined specifications. Within the period of 2004 and 2006 alone, IC and IACM spent over 1.3 million patacas on this type of works.The audit found out both departments were lax in abiding with the legal provisions which established the compulsory of the Government Printing House in any price quotation; they didn’t possessed effective control measures for works not sold nor for the good storage of the copies in stock, which raised the risk of their degradation; they also didn’t have a periodic assessment, with registry of the decisions reached, on the published titles, which weakens the efficacy of the government publications.As for the publications supported by public money, the Commission of Audit suggests the public departments should “economize where it should be”; they should plan globally and adequately, apply a rigorous control and avoid pursuing the luxury, which only squanders the public coffer. The Commission of Audit also recommends a generalized usage of the electronic greeting cards, which contributes to the preservation of the environment and avoids wasting resources.The performance audit report “Government departments’ publications management”, already presented to the Chief of Executive and copy to the Legislative Assembly.