Vietnam Proposes Cutting 40 Administrative Procedures, Business Conditions in Agriculture and Environment Sectors

The Vietnamese government has submitted a draft law to the National Assembly aimed at significantly reducing administrative procedures and business conditions in the agriculture and environment sectors. This bill seeks to alleviate burdens on citizens and businesses and stimulate economic activity. The draft law, titled "Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of Laws Related to Administrative Procedures and Business Conditions in the Agriculture and Environment Sectors," includes amendments to 10 laws relevant to these fields. These include the Law on Cultivation, the Law on Plant Protection and Quarantine, the Law on Animal Husbandry, the Law on Veterinary Medicine, the Law on Fisheries, the Law on Geology and Minerals, the Law on Water Resources, the Law on Irrigation, the Law on Meteorology and Hydrology, and the Law on Dikes. According to the draft law's overview, 40 administrative procedures will be reduced and 12 will be simplified. Furthermore, 40 business conditions are expected to be cut. Additionally, decentralization of administrative procedures will occur, with 24 procedures currently held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development being delegated to provincial People's Committee chairpersons. This is expected to expedite decision-making at the local level and allow for responses tailored to regional realities. This legislation is believed to contribute to improving the investment environment and facilitating business by easing regulations in the agriculture and environment sectors, which are crucial for national economic development. The Vietnamese government considers the simplification of administrative procedures a key pillar of its economic growth strategy, and this legislative amendment is part of that effort. The draft law is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2027. The aim is for citizens and businesses to feel the positive effects of the reforms as early as possible. The Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment expressed agreement with the necessity and scope of the amendments. However, he also called for clarification on the post-inspection methods for the reduced procedures and a further review of the feasibility of decentralization, considering the implementation capacity of local authorities.