Joint Circular No. 14/2015/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of specialized agencies for agriculture and rural development under provincial and district People's Committees.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of specialized agencies under provincial and district people's committees

on agriculture and rural development under the People's Committee at the provincial and district levels

___________________________

Pursuant to Decree No. 24/2014/NĐ-CP dated April 4, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities;

Pursuant to Decree No. 37/2014/NĐ-CP dated May 5, 2014 of the Government stipulating the organization of specialized agencies under the People's Committees of districts, towns, and provincial-level cities;

Pursuant to Decree No. 36/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 18, 2012 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

BASED ON THE DECREE NO. 199/2013/NĐ-CP OF NOVEMBER 26, 2013 OF THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDING FOR THE FUNCTIONS, TASKS, POWERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT;

Pursuant to Decree No. 58/2014/NĐ-CP dated June 16, 2014 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Minister of Home Affairs issue this Joint Circular guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of specialized agencies on agriculture and rural development under the People's Committees at the provincial and district levels.

PART I

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Article 1. Position and Functions

1. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is a specialized agency under the People's Committee at the provincial level responsible for advising and assisting the People's Committee at the provincial level in managing state affairs concerning: agriculture; forestry; salt industry; fisheries; water resources; rural development; disaster prevention and mitigation; food safety for agricultural, forest, and fishery products and salt; public services within the scope of agriculture and rural development according to laws and as assigned or delegated by the People's Committee at the provincial level or the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level.

2. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has legal personality, its own seal, and separate bank accounts; it is subject to the direction and management of the People's Committee at the provincial level; simultaneously, it is subject to the direction, guidance, and professional supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

b) Draft five-year and annual socio-economic development plans for the province; major economic and social balances for the province; draft five-year and annual plans, programs, projects, measures to organize and implement tasks related to socio-economic development, finance-budget, planning-investment, and other tasks within the scope of state management of the Department of Finance as prescribed by law;

1. Submit to the People's Committee at the provincial level:

a) Draft decisions, directives; long-term plans, five-year plans, and annual plans; programs, projects, and proposals regarding: agriculture; forestry; salt industry; fisheries; water resources; rural development; food quality and safety for agricultural, forest, and fishery products and salt; disaster prevention and mitigation planning consistent with overall socio-economic development plans, national defense, and security objectives of the locality; programs and measures to organize the implementation of administrative reform tasks within the scope of management entrusted;

b) Draft documents defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Draft documents specifying the conditions, standards, and leadership positions for heads and deputy heads of organizations under the Department; heads and deputy heads of Agricultural and Rural Development Departments under the People's Committee at the district level; draft regulations on the conditions, standards, and leadership positions for those responsible for agricultural fields in Economic Departments under the People's Committee at the town and provincial city levels.

2. Submit to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level:

a) Draft decisions on establishing, merging, splitting, or dissolving organizations under the Department in accordance with the law;

b) Draft decisions and directives within the authority of the Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level;

c) Issue regulations on the management, coordination, and reporting system of provincial-level agricultural and rural development organizations stationed in districts with the People's Committee at the district level; technical staff stationed in communes with the People's Committee at the commune level.

3. Implement normative legal documents, development plans, programs, projects, national standards, national technical regulations, economic-technical norms concerning: agriculture; forestry; salt industry; fisheries; water resources; rural development; disaster prevention and mitigation; food safety quality that have been approved; provide information, propaganda, dissemination, education, and monitoring the enforcement of laws in the fields within the scope of management entrusted.

4. On agriculture (crop cultivation, plant protection, animal husbandry, veterinary medicine):

a) Organize the implementation of land use plans and schemes for crop cultivation and animal husbandry after approval, and measures to prevent soil degradation and erosion in the province according to regulations;

b) Organize the implementation of seed, livestock breeding, fertilizer, feed, plant protection chemicals, veterinary drugs, and other materials serving agricultural production according to the law;

c) Assist the People's Committee at the provincial level in directing agricultural production, harvesting, storage, processing of agricultural products; implement crop varieties, planting seasons, cultivation techniques;

d) Organize plant protection, veterinary work, prevention, control, and mitigation of consequences of natural disasters and animal and plant diseases in agricultural production; guide and organize the implementation of domestic quarantine of animals and plants in the province according to regulations; implement quarantine at ports for animals and plants according to regulations;

đ) Manage and use local reserves of seeds, plant protection chemicals, veterinary drugs, and goods in the field of crop cultivation and animal husbandry on the territory after approval by the People's Committee at the provincial level;

e) Carry out tasks related to animal slaughter according to the law;

g) Guide and organize the construction of good agricultural practices models (VietGAP) in agriculture.

5. On forestry:

a) Guide the establishment and be responsible for reviewing the planning and development of forests by the People's Committee at the district level;

b) Assist the People's Committee at the provincial level in managing and deciding to establish protective forests, special-use forests, productive forests within the management scope of the locality after approval; organize the classification of forests, determination of forest boundaries, statistics, inventory, and monitoring of forest changes according to guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Organize the implementation of plans for transferring forests to district and commune levels after approval; organize the transfer of forests, forest leasing, forest recovery, change of forest use purposes, recognition of forest use rights and ownership of production forests planted for organizations, overseas Vietnamese residents, and foreign organizations and individuals implementing forestry investment projects in Vietnam; organize the establishment and management of forest transfer and lease files and land for planting forests;

d) Assist the Provincial People's Committee in directing the District People's Committees to implement the transfer of forests to village communities and the transfer and leasing of forests to households and individuals according to regulations;

đ) Guide and inspect the implementation of regulations on forestry tree seeds; organize the selection and recognition of mother trees, parent trees, and seedling forests within the province. Develop plans, measures, direct and inspect the production of forestry tree seeds and the use of forestry materials; afforestation; processing and preservation of forest products; prevention and control of forest pests and diseases; forest fire prevention and extinguishing;

e) Be responsible for approving plans for forest management, forest harvesting designs, and forest engineering designs; assist the Provincial People's Committee in directing and inspecting afforestation, protection of upstream forests, special-use forests, protective forests; scattered forestry development according to regulations;

g) Guide and inspect: the approval to open forest areas for harvesting and allocate harvesting plans to forest owners who are organizations and District People's Committees after approval; the implementation of regulations on the responsibilities of District People's Committees and Commune People's Committees in managing and protecting local forests; coordination and mobilization of forces and means from organizations and individuals within the area for forest protection, forest product management, and forest fire prevention and extinguishing;

6. Regarding salt industry: Guide and inspect salt production, harvesting, storage, and processing at the local level;

7. Regarding fisheries:

a) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of legal provisions on aquaculture, fishing, conservation, and development of aquatic resources; corridors for aquatic species movement when applying various fishing methods; announce additional contents of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's regulations on the list of prohibited fishing species and prohibited fishing periods; fishing methods, types of restricted or prohibited fishing gear; minimum size and species of fish allowed to be caught; fishing seasons, fishing grounds; prohibited fishing areas and time-limited prohibited fishing areas consistent with provincial fishing activities;

b) Guide and inspect the implementation of decisions by the Provincial People's Committee on establishing marine protected areas and inland water body protected areas; management regulations for marine protected areas and inland water body protected areas managed by the locality and fishing ground management regulations in rivers, lakes, ponds, and other natural waters under provincial jurisdiction according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;

c) Organize the evaluation of aquatic resources; organize patrols, inspections, detection, and handling of violations of fisheries laws within the province's jurisdiction according to legal provisions;

d) Guide and inspect the implementation of disease prevention and control in accordance with regulations;

đ) Manage feed, biological preparations, and chemicals used for environmental treatment in aquaculture according to regulations;

e) Guide and inspect the establishment of detailed planning for aquaculture zones. Be responsible for reviewing aquaculture plans and programs at the district level and organizing the management of concentrated aquaculture zones;

g) Advise and assist the Provincial People's Committee in organizing the implementation of the transfer and leasing of sea surface areas under local management for aquaculture according to regulations;

h) Organize the inspection of quality and quarantine of aquaculture seedlings at aquaculture seedling production facilities; organize the implementation of disease prevention and mitigation of disease consequences on the local area according to regulations;

i) Guide, inspect, and organize the implementation of regulations on the分级管理渔船、渔港、鱼市、海岸线、渔船避风和停泊区以及渔船检验和登记；关于批发市场渔业活动的组织和管理制度；

k) Cooperate with the central Fishery Surveillance Force to organize patrols, inspections, supervision, detection, and handling of violations of the law;

8. Regarding water conservancy:

a) Guide and inspect the implementation of regulations by the Provincial People's Committee on the分级管理水利蓄水工程、水利工程和农村供水排水目标计划；指导和检查水利蓄水工程的建设、运营、使用和保护；水利工程的建设和保护，属于省人民委员会的任务；组织实施已经批准的农村供水排水目标计划；

b) Implement regulations on river and stream management, utilization, and development of rivers and streams within the province according to approved planning and plans;

c) Guide and inspect the implementation of regulations on national management of levee construction, protection, and flood control engineering; develop plans, measures, and organize the implementation of flood control measures in the province according to legal provisions;

d) Guide the preparation of water conservancy land use plans, organize the marking of boundary stakes on-site, and develop plans and measures for relocating related works and residences within the levee protection zone and riverbank areas according to regulations;

đ) Guide and inspect the implementation of national management regulations on the exploitation and protection of water conservancy works; regarding the protection corridor for levees of grade IV and V; the decision to manage floods and delay floods within the scope of the local area according to regulations;

e) Guide and inspect irrigation and drainage work serving agricultural production in the province according to regulations;

9. Regarding rural development:

a) Compile and report to the Provincial People's Committee on mechanisms, policies, and measures to encourage rural development; household economy development, rural farm economy, cooperative economy, agricultural, forestry, fishery, salt industry cooperatives linked with trades and rural craft villages within the commune level; monitor and compile reports to the Provincial People's Committee on rural development within the area.

b) Guide and inspect the implementation of regulations on the division of responsibilities and decentralization of appraisal for programs and projects related to relocation and resettlement in agriculture and rural areas; plans for economic restructuring and rural development programs; the development of trades and craft villages in rural areas linked with households and cooperatives at the provincial level; direct, guide, and inspect the implementation after approval.

c) Guide the development of household economy, farms, cooperative economy, and the development of industries, trades, and craft villages in rural areas at the provincial level.

d) Guide and inspect the implementation of work to eliminate drug-producing plants according to regulations; farming, relocation, and resettlement in agriculture and rural areas; vocational training for rural labor.

đ) Organize the implementation of programs, projects, or components of programs and projects to eradicate poverty and build new rural areas; construct residential areas; build rural infrastructure according to the assignment or delegation of the Provincial People's Committee.

10. Regarding processing and trade of agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt:

a) Guide and inspect the implementation of planning, programs, mechanisms, and policies for the development of processing industries linked with production and markets of goods under the management of the Department; policies for the development of agricultural machinery, trades, and craft villages linked with households and cooperatives after approval by competent authorities.

b) Guide, inspect, and evaluate the development of processing and preservation for agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt; agricultural machinery, trades, and rural craft villages under the management of the Department.

c) Carry out market forecasting work and promote trade of agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt under the management of the Department.

d) Coordinate with relevant agencies to organize trade promotion activities for agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt.

11. Regarding quality and food safety of agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt:

a) Guide, inspect, and implement certification of product quality and food safety for agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt on the territory according to the provisions of the law.

b) Statistics, evaluate, and classify conditions ensuring product quality and food safety of agricultural inputs and agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt production and business establishments.

c) Implement food safety monitoring programs, risk assessments, and traceability of causes of food safety incidents on the territory according to the provisions.

d) Handle unsafe food according to the guidance of the specialized Management Agency and the provisions of the law.

đ) Manage activities of conformity certification, declaration of conformity, issuance of certificates confirming advertising content about the quality and safety of agricultural products within the scope of management according to the provisions of the law.

e) Manage inspection activities and provide quality and food safety services for agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt products according to the provisions of law;

12. Organize the implementation of agricultural extension work according to the provisions of the law.

13. Build and guide the implementation of environmental protection measures in agricultural, forestry, salt, aquaculture production, and rural development activities at the local level; guide and inspect the implementation of tasks to conserve and sustainably develop biodiversity in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture according to the provisions of the law.

14. Organize the implementation and be responsible for appraisal, inspection, registration, issuance, and revocation of licenses, certifications, and practice certificates within the scope of management of the Department according to the provisions of the law, assignments, and delegations of the Provincial People's Committee, and guidelines from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

15. Establish a system of information and archive materials on agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, irrigation, salt production, rural development; organize statistical work on the evolution of agricultural land, forestry land, salt production land, forest evolution, water bodies for aquaculture, and statistical activities serving management requirements according to the provisions.

16. Perform state management tasks for specialized construction investment according to the provisions of the law; guide, inspect, supervise, and evaluate the implementation of projects and the development of models for agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, irrigation, salt production, and rural development within the province; be responsible for implementing assigned programs and projects.

17. Carry out international cooperation in fields under the management of the Department according to the assignment or delegation of the Provincial People's Committee and the provisions of the law.

18. Guide and inspect the implementation of self-management and self-responsibility mechanisms of public service units directly under the Department and public service units operating in the fields of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, irrigation, rural development, disaster prevention and control, and food safety for agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt of the province according to the provisions of the law; be responsible for public services organized by the Department.

19. Assist the Provincial People's Committee in state management over enterprises, collective economic organizations, private economic organizations, associations, and non-governmental organizations in the fields of agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, irrigation, salt production, and rural development according to the provisions of the law.

20. Exercise rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the State owner according to the division and decentralization of the Provincial People's Committee for wholly state-owned limited liability companies and state capital invested in other enterprises according to the provisions of the law.

21. Provide professional guidance on specialized and business affairs for the Agricultural and Rural Development Office under the People's Committee of the district, the Economic Office under the People's Committee of the town, city under province, specialized positions under the People's Committee of the commune, and inspect the implementation of management regulations, coordination work, and information reporting systems between provincial agricultural organizations and development offices located within the district with the People's Committee of the district; technical staff at the commune level with the People's Committee of the commune.

22. Organize research and application of scientific and technological advancements to agricultural production and rural development within the province.

23. Conduct inspections, handle complaints and denunciations; prevent and combat corruption; promote thrift and combat waste; and enforce violations of laws related to agriculture, forestry, salt industry, fisheries, water resources, rural development, disaster prevention and mitigation, food safety for agricultural, forestry, fishery products, and salt within the scope of management as prescribed by law or delegated by the People's Committee of the province.

24. Carry out tasks as the permanent agency for disaster prevention and mitigation; forest protection and development; new rural construction; clean water and environmental sanitation in rural areas; desertification control; management of trade in endangered wild flora and fauna species; disease prevention and control in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries within the province.

25. Direct and organize the implementation of administrative reform programs in fields under the management of the Department after approval by the People's Committee of the province.

26. Specify the functions, duties, authorities, and working relationships of the office, specialized and business affairs rooms, inspection agencies, and public service units under the Department in accordance with the Department’s functions, duties, and authorities as guided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and as stipulated by the People's Committee of the province.

27. Manage organizational structures, civil servant quotas, job grade structures, job positions, personnel composition based on occupational titles, and the number of employees in public service units; implement salary systems and incentive policies, training, retraining, rewards, and disciplinary measures for civil servants, public officials, and workers under its jurisdiction according to law and as assigned or delegated by the People's Committee of the province; organize training and retraining for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and non-professional village, town, and township managers in agricultural, forestry, salt industry, fisheries, water resources, rural development, disaster prevention and mitigation, food safety for agricultural, forestry, fishery products, and salt as prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the People's Committee of the province.

28. Manage and be responsible for financial resources and assets allocated according to law, as assigned or delegated by the People's Committee of the province.

29. Implement regular or urgent information and reporting on the situation of assigned tasks according to the provisions of the People's Committee of the province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

30. Perform other tasks assigned by the People's Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of the province, and as prescribed by law.

Article 3. Organizational Structure

1. Leadership of the Department:

a) The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has a Director and Deputy Directors. The number of Deputy Directors shall not exceed three people.

b) The Director of the Department is the head of the Department, accountable to the People's Committee of the province, the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province, and the law for the performance of the Department's functions, duties, and authorities, and for the tasks assigned or delegated by the People's Committee and the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province; responsible for reporting work to the People's Council, the People's Committee of the province, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development when required; provide necessary documents upon request of the People's Council of the province; respond to elector petitions and questions from People's Council representatives regarding issues within the scope of the Department's management; coordinate with other Department Directors, heads of political and social organizations, and relevant agencies in performing Department tasks.

c) Deputy Directors assist the Director in managing certain aspects of work and are accountable to the Director and the law for the tasks assigned. When the Director is absent, a Deputy Director may be delegated by the Director to oversee the Department's operations.

d) The appointment of the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department is decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province according to the position standards issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and as prescribed by law. The Director and Deputy Directors of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall not concurrently hold the position of Chief Inspector. In cases where concurrent holding is necessary, the duration shall not exceed twelve months. The removal, transfer, rotation, commendation, punishment, resignation, retirement, and implementation of policies for the Director and Deputy Directors of the Department are decided by the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province according to law.

2. Organizations for comprehensive advisory and specialized business affairs under the Department:

The number of specialized and business affairs rooms, offices, and inspection agencies shall not exceed six, specifically:

a) Organizations established uniformly across localities include:

- The Department Office (responsible for administrative management, documentation, property management, overall monitoring, legal affairs, international cooperation);

- The Department Inspection Agency;

- The Planning and Finance Room (responsible for planning, finance, science and technology, and environmental management);

- The Cadre and Civil Servant Management Room (responsible for organizational structure management, civil servants, public officials, civil servant quotas, job positions, personnel composition, training, retraining, policies, incentives, awards, discipline, administrative reform).

b) Specialized and business affairs organizations established according to the characteristics of each locality include: The Fisheries Room (established in provinces and cities without a Fisheries Inspection Agency); The Construction Management Room.

The establishment of specialized and business departments under the Department must ensure comprehensive coverage of all areas of work of the Department; clearly define the functions and tasks of each department without overlapping with those of other departments and organizations under the Department; for specialized fields that have established Inspection Units directly under the Department, no specialized and business departments in the same field shall be established, and tasks within the management scope of the Inspection Unit shall not be delegated to other specialized and business departments.

The appointment and removal of Heads of Departments, Deputy Heads of Departments, Heads of Inspectors, Deputy Heads of Inspectors, Heads of Offices, and Deputy Heads of Offices under the Department shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law and the分级管理干部权限的规定。

3. Inspection Units under the Department:

The number of specialized administrative inspection units organized shall ensure efficiency and simplicity, not exceeding seven inspection units.

Each Inspection Unit has legal personality, its own seal, bank account, office premises, and operational funds provided by the state budget according to the provisions of the law.

In cases where it is necessary to establish additional Departments under an Inspection Unit, the Provincial People's Committee shall develop a Project to be submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consensus before making a decision.

The Inspection Units under the Department include:

a) Crop Production and Plant Protection Inspection Unit:

- The Crop Production and Plant Protection Inspection Unit is established based on restructuring administrative organizations under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, advising and assisting the Director of the Department in managing crop production and plant protection.

- The Crop Production and Plant Protection Inspection Unit is an administrative organization under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in advising the Provincial People's Committee to perform specialized state management functions and enforce laws related to crop production, agricultural seed breeding, land use for agriculture, fertilizers, plant protection, domestic plant quarantine, plant protection chemicals, disinfection, and public service management within the assigned scope on provincial territory.

- The Inspection Unit is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the law; at the same time, it is guided, inspected, and supervised in terms of expertise and business by the Crop Production Bureau and the Plant Protection Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Crop Production and Plant Protection Inspection Unit includes: an Inspector General and no more than two Deputy Inspector Generals; the specialized and business departments of the Inspection Unit shall not exceed four departments (ensuring comprehensive coverage of the following basic areas: administration, general affairs; inspection and legal affairs; crop production; plant protection); County or inter-county Crop Production and Plant Protection Stations; Domestic Plant Quarantine Stations; Border Plant Quarantine Stations established in accordance with the law; other affiliated public institutions (if any).

b) Livestock and Veterinary Inspection Unit:

- The Livestock and Veterinary Inspection Unit is established based on restructuring administrative organizations under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, advising and assisting the Director of the Department in managing livestock and veterinary affairs.

- The Livestock and Veterinary Inspection Unit is an administrative organization under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in advising the Provincial People's Committee to perform specialized state management functions and enforce laws related to livestock and veterinary affairs (except for aquatic animal veterinary affairs, which follow the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) within the provincial territory.

The Livestock and Veterinary Inspection Unit is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the law; at the same time, it is guided, inspected in terms of expertise and business by the Livestock Breeding Bureau and the Veterinary Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Livestock and Veterinary Inspection Unit includes: an Inspector General and no more than two Deputy Inspector Generals; the specialized and business departments of the Inspection Unit shall not exceed five departments (ensuring comprehensive coverage of the following basic areas: administration, general affairs; inspection and legal affairs; management of breeding stock and livestock techniques; management of livestock drugs and feed; disease control); County or inter-county Livestock and Veterinary Stations; Animal Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Stations; Key Traffic Animal Quarantine Stations (established according to the planning of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development); Border Animal Quarantine Stations authorized according to the law.

c) Forest Inspection Unit:

- The Forest Inspection Unit is established based on restructuring administrative organizations under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, advising and assisting the Director of the Department in managing forest protection and development.

- The Forest Inspection Unit is an administrative organization under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in advising the Provincial People's Committee to perform specialized state management functions and enforce laws related to forest protection and development within the provincial territory.

The Forest Inspection Unit is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the law; at the same time, it is guided, inspected in terms of expertise and business by the Forestry General Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Forest Inspection Agency includes: the Director of the Agency and not more than two Deputy Directors of the Agency; no more than five specialized departments within the Agency (covering the following areas: administrative, general; inspection, legal affairs; forest management and natural resource conservation; forest utilization and development; organization, propaganda, and force building); Forest Inspection Stations at district level (established in districts with forest areas and unused land planned for forestry purposes of 3,000 hectares or more, or in districts with forest areas and unused land planned for forestry purposes under 3,000 hectares currently having Forest Inspection Stations, or in necessary places to protect forests, manage facilities for breeding forest animals and plants, forest product processing facilities, and centralized forest product exchange points), or inter-district Forest Inspection Stations (for districts that do not meet the criteria for establishing district-level Forest Inspection Stations); Mobile Forest Inspection Teams and Forest Fire Prevention and Control Teams; Forest Protection Stations managed by local authorities and other public organizations (if any).

d) Fisheries Inspection Agency:

- The Fisheries Inspection Agency is established based on reorganizing administrative units directly under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that provide advice and assist the Director of the Department in managing the fisheries sector.

- The Fisheries Inspection Agency is an administrative unit directly under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in providing advice to the Provincial People's Committee to perform state management functions in the fisheries sector and enforce laws related to aquaculture, feed, fish seed quality, fishing, biodiversity conservation, protection, and development of aquatic resources.

The Agency is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the law; simultaneously, it is subject to guidance and supervision in its professional fields by the Fisheries General Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Fisheries Inspection Agency includes: the Director of the Agency and not more than two Deputy Directors of the Agency; no more than five specialized departments within the Agency (ensuring comprehensive coverage of the following basic areas: administrative, general; inspection, legal affairs; aquaculture; exploitation and development of aquatic resources; fishing vessels and fishery service facilities); Regional Fisheries Stations (inter-district) are established according to the provincial government's management requirements and legal provisions, clearly defining the objectives, functions, and tasks of the Station and ensuring no overlap with the functions and tasks of previously established organizations; Fish Inspection Centers under the Agency are established in coastal provinces according to specific requirements and conditions of the locality; other public organizations (if any).

đ) Water Resources Management Agency:

- The Water Resources Management Agency is established based on reorganizing administrative units directly under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development that provide advice and assist the Director of the Department in managing the water resources sector, dyke systems, flood and storm prevention, and rural clean water.

- The Water Resources Management Agency is an administrative unit directly under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in performing state management functions in the water resources, dyke system, flood and storm prevention, and rural clean water sectors in accordance with the law.

The Water Resources Management Agency is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the law; simultaneously, it is subject to guidance in its professional fields by the Water Resources Management General Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Water Resources Management Agency includes: the Director of the Agency and not more than two Deputy Directors of the Agency; no more than five specialized departments within the Agency (ensuring comprehensive coverage of the following basic areas: administrative, general; inspection, legal affairs; water resources engineering management and rural clean water; dyke management; flood and storm prevention); Dyke Management Units (for provinces with Class III dykes or higher) are established according to legal provisions; Regional Water Resources Management Stations (inter-district) are established in provinces without Class III to special-class dykes according to provincial government management requirements and legal provisions, clearly defining the objectives, functions, and tasks of the Station and ensuring no overlap with the functions and tasks of previously established organizations.

e) Rural Development Agency:

- The Rural Development Agency is an administrative unit directly under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in providing advice to the Provincial People's Committee to perform state management functions in the agricultural cooperative economy sector, farm economy, household economy, planning and resettlement of population, relocation and resettlement, rural development, rural social security, vocational training for rural labor in agriculture, agricultural machinery and rural industry development.

The Rural Development Agency is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the law; simultaneously, it is subject to guidance in its professional fields by the Cooperative Economy and Rural Development Bureau, and the Agricultural, Forestry, Aquatic Products Processing and Salt Industry Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Rural Development Agency includes: the Director of the Agency and not more than two Deputy Directors of the Agency; no more than four specialized departments within the Agency (ensuring comprehensive coverage of the following areas: administrative, general; cooperative economy and farms; rural development and population resettlement; agricultural machinery and rural industries).

g) Quality Management Agency for Agricultural, Forestry, and Aquatic Products:

- The Quality Management Agency for Agricultural, Forestry, and Aquatic Products is an administrative unit directly under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, assisting the Director of the Department in providing advice to the Provincial People's Committee to perform state management functions and enforce laws related to quality and food safety throughout the production, collection, preliminary processing, processing, storage, transportation, and trade processes; processing and trade of agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, and salt in the locality.

The Agency is subject to the direction and management of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with the provisions of the law; at the same time, it is subject to guidance and inspection on specialized fields and professional matters by the Quality Management Agency for Forestry, Aquaculture and Fisheries, and the Processing Agency for Forestry, Aquaculture and Salt Industry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- The organizational structure of the Quality Management Agency for Forestry, Aquaculture and Fisheries includes: the Agency Director and not more than two Deputy Directors; up to four specialized departments within the Agency (established based on areas of work: administrative, general affairs; inspection, legal affairs; quality management; processing, agricultural product trade); Regional Quality Management Stations for Forestry, Aquaculture and Fisheries (covering multiple counties) established based on the national management requirements of the province and the provisions of the law, clearly defining the objectives, functions, and tasks of the Station and ensuring that there is no overlap in functions and tasks with previously established organizations; other subordinate public service organizations (if any).

4. Subordinate public service organizations:

a) Based on the characteristics and actual workload in the locality, the Provincial People's Committee decides to establish (or not establish) public service organizations subordinate to the Department, including: Agricultural Extension Center; Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation Center for Rural Areas; Seed Center (for crops, livestock, aquaculture); Fish Port Management Board; Specialized Forest Management Board; Protective Forest Management Board.

b) Local agricultural extension organizations operate in accordance with Article 10 of Decree No. 02/2010/NĐ-CP of the Government on Agricultural Extension. Based on the specific characteristics of the locality, the Provincial People's Committee decides on the establishment of Agricultural Extension Stations with contractual workers and volunteers working on agricultural extension activities in communes.

Article 4. Civil Servant Establishment and Number of Staff (Public Service Establishment)

1. The staffing of civil servants and public service personnel of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is allocated based on job positions tied to functions, tasks, scope of operations, and within the total staffing of civil servants and public service personnel in provincial administrative agencies and public service units approved or assigned by the competent authority.

2. Based on functions, tasks, organizational structure, list of job positions, civil servant grade structure, and vocational position structure approved by the competent authority, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development annually develops staffing plans for civil servants and public service personnel in accordance with the law to ensure the fulfillment of assigned tasks.

Chapter II

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN COUNTIES OR ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT IN DISTRICTS AND CITIES UNDER PROVINCES

IN DISTRICTS AND CITIES UNDER PROVINCES

Article 5. Position and Functions

1. The Agriculture and Rural Development Department in counties or the Economic Department in districts and cities under provinces is a specialized agency under the County People's Committee; it advises and assists the County People's Committee in performing state management functions locally in the following areas: agriculture; forestry; salt production; water conservancy; fisheries; disaster prevention and control; quality and safety of food products related to agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt products; rural development; household economic development; rural farmstead economy; agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt industry cooperative economy linked to local trades and crafts; and performs certain duties and powers delegated by the County People's Committee and in accordance with the law, ensuring unified management in the local field and sector.

2. The Agriculture and Rural Development Department or the Economic Department has legal personality, its own seal, and separate bank accounts; it is subject to the direction and management of the County People's Committee in accordance with the law; at the same time, it is subject to the direction, guidance, and inspection on specialized fields and professional matters by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 6. Tasks and Powers

1. Draft decisions, directives; long-term, five-year, and annual plans; programs encouraging the development of agriculture, forestry, salt production, fisheries, water conservancy, and rural development; disaster prevention and control; quality and safety of food products for the County People's Committee to submit to the same-level People's Council for approval; programs and measures to organize the implementation of administrative reform tasks within the assigned state management area.

2. Draft documents in the specialized agricultural and rural development field within the authority of the County People's Committee Chairman for submission to the County People's Committee Chairman.

3. Implement normative legal documents, plans, technical standards, and specifications in the specialized field that have been approved; provide information, promote, and disseminate laws in the assigned management areas; monitor law enforcement.

4. Implement work on developing agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt production; work on disaster prevention and control, pest, and disease control in the area.

5. Coordinate in organizing the protection of dikes, small and medium-sized water conservancy works; aquaculture facilities; rural water supply and drainage works; disaster prevention and control works; manage the irrigation network in the area in accordance with the law.

6. Serve as the focal point for organizing and guiding the implementation of content related to rural development; compile the situation, report to the County People's Committee on the construction and development of the county in the areas of household economic development, farmstead economy, cooperative economy, agricultural cooperatives; rural industry and craft development; rural clean water exploitation and utilization; agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt product processing; guide and inspect the implementation of resettlement and relocation work in agriculture and rural areas.

7. Organize statistical activities to serve management requirements as prescribed; statistics on the changes in agricultural land, forest land, salt production land, surface water for aquaculture, and forest resource changes; implement appropriate cultivation measures to rationally exploit and utilize land and water resources for agricultural production, aquaculture, and salt production.

8. Manage the quality of agricultural materials, food safety of agricultural, forestry, fishery, and salt products in the area in accordance with the law.

9. Manage activities related to agricultural, forestry, salt industry, fisheries services for development; agricultural and forestry materials, fertilizers, livestock feed, aquaculture on the territory of the district.

10. Manage extension work in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, salt industry, and projects for agricultural, forestry, salt industry, fisheries, water resources, and rural development within the district in accordance with regulations.

11. Assist the District People's Committee in implementing and being responsible for the examination, registration, and issuance of various types of permits within the scope of responsibility and authority of the specialized agency as stipulated by law and assigned by the District People's Committee.

12. Assist the District People's Committee in managing state administration over collective economic organizations, private economic entities, associations, and non-governmental organizations operating within the district's jurisdiction in accordance with the laws governing the room's management areas.

11. Provide professional guidance in the field of management of the room to commune-level civil servants regarding agriculture and rural development.

12. Inspect compliance with legal provisions concerning agriculture, forestry, salt industry, fisheries, water resources, and rural development by organizations and individuals under its jurisdiction; handle complaints and denunciations; prevent and combat corruption and waste in accordance with the law and assignments from the District People's Committee.

13. Organize the application of scientific and technological advancements; build information and storage systems to serve state management and professional tasks of the Room.

14. Carry out standing tasks related to flood, storm, disaster prevention and control; forest protection and development plans; new rural construction; clean water and environmental sanitation in rural areas; desertification prevention; disease prevention in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries within the district.

15. Implement regular and urgent reporting on the implementation of assigned tasks in the fields of agriculture, forestry, salt industry, fisheries, water resources, and rural development according to the regulations of the District People's Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

16. Manage civil servants within the scope of the Room's management in accordance with the law and the classification level assigned by the District People's Committee.

17. Perform other tasks assigned by the District People's Committee or the Chairman of the District People's Committee as stipulated by law.

Article 7. Organization and staffing

1. The Agricultural and Rural Development Office or the Economic Office (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Office) shall have a Director, not more than three Deputy Directors, and professional civil servants.

a) The Director is responsible before the District People's Committee, the Chairman of the District People's Committee, and the law for performing the functions, duties, and powers of the Office; has the responsibility to report work to the People's Council and the District People's Committee when requested; cooperate with the heads of specialized agencies and county-level political-social organizations to resolve issues related to the functions, duties, and powers of the Office;

b) The Deputy Director assists the Director in directing certain aspects of work and is responsible to the Director for the assigned tasks. When the Director is absent, a Deputy Director appointed by the Director shall manage the Office's operations;

c) The appointment of the Director is decided by the Chairman of the District People's Committee based on the position criteria established by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for promulgation, and in accordance with the law. The removal, transfer, rotation, commendation, disciplinary action, resignation, retirement, and implementation of policies for the Director and Deputy Directors are decided by the Chairman of the District People's Committee in accordance with the law.

2. Professional civil servants engaged in agricultural and rural development management at the county level are arranged in positions approved by the competent authority in the fields of crop production and plant protection; animal husbandry and veterinary medicine; forestry; fisheries; water resources; rural development; quality and food safety management.

3. The staffing of the Agricultural and Rural Development Office or the Economic Office is decided by the Chairman of the District People's Committee within the total staffing quota of the district assigned by the competent authority.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 8. Provincial People's Committees and People's Committees of centrally governed cities

1. Direct the improvement of the organizational system of the agriculture and rural development sector within their jurisdiction.

2. Specify in detail the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in accordance with this Joint Circular and relevant legal documents; guide the People's Committees at the district level to specify the functions, tasks, and powers of the Agriculture and Rural Development Office and the Economic Office.

Article 9. Chairpersons of provincial-level People's Committees

1. Issue regulations and delegate authority to the Department Director to appoint and dismiss heads and deputy heads of departments and units under the Department according to standards and titles issued by the provincial-level People's Committee.

2. Annually report on the organization and operation of specialized agencies for agriculture and rural development to the provincial People's Council, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as prescribed.

Article 10. Transitional Provisions

1. For reorganized Branches that have more Deputy Branch Chiefs than stipulated in this Joint Circular, continue to maintain the current number of Deputy Branch Chiefs to ensure stability and only supplement additional Deputy Branch Chiefs when the current number has not reached the stipulated number in this Joint Circular.

2. Amend certain phrases in legal normative documents guided by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development or the Inter-Ministerial Guidance on crop cultivation, plant protection, animal husbandry, veterinary services, fisheries, forestry, water resources management, and flood control as follows:

a) Replace the phrases "Animal Health Branch" with "Livestock and Animal Health Branch"; "Animal Health Station" with "Livestock and Animal Health Station".

b) Replace the phrases "Plant Protection Branch" with "Crop Production and Plant Protection Branch"; "Plant Protection Station" with "Crop Production and Plant Protection Station".

c) Replace the phrase "Aquaculture Branch" or "Fisheries Resource Exploitation and Protection Branch" with "Fisheries Branch".

d) Replace the phrases "Water Resources Management Branch", "Water Resources Management and Flood Control Branch", "Dike Management and Flood Control Branch", or "Dike Management and Flood Control Branch" with "Water Resources Management Branch".

đ) Replace the phrases "Forestry Branch" or "Forest Protection Branch" with "Forest Protection Branch".

e) For seals, documents, and books already printed with the names of Branches in the fields of animal health, plant protection, forestry, water resources management, and fisheries, they may continue to be used until December 31, 2015, and be stamped for modification to align with the new names of the Branches.

Article 11. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Circular takes effect from May 11, 2015, replacing Joint Circular No. 61/2008/TTLT-BNN-BNV dated May 15, 2008, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures of specialized agencies under provincial and district-level People's Committees and the management responsibilities of village-level People's Committees regarding agriculture and rural development; replacing related contents of Joint Circulars and Circulars: No. 37/2011/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated May 23, 2011, guiding the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures of the Animal Health Branch under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; No. 31/2009/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BNV dated June 5, 2009, guiding the functions, tasks, powers, organization, and staffing of the Quality Control Branch for Agricultural and Forestry Products and Aquatic Products under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; No. 22/2007/TTLT-BNN-BNV dated March 27, 2007, guiding the duties, powers, and organizational structures of local forest rangers; Circular No. 02/2011/TT-BNNPTNT dated January 21, 2011, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development guiding the management responsibilities for livestock and previous regulations of the Inter-Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conflicting with this Joint Circular.

2. During implementation, if there are any difficulties or need for supplementation or amendment, the provincial-level People's Committee shall report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs for research and resolution./.