Decision No. 2282/QD-TTg Approves the Scheme to Encourage the Use of Cremation

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PRIME MINISTER

Based on the Law on the Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law dated November 29, 2005;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Construction,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approve the Project to Encourage the Use of Cremation (hereinafter referred to as the Project) with the following main contents:

I. VIEWPOINT:

- Promote and mobilize the people to widely use cremation in funeral practices as a contribution to effectively implement the movement for civilized living habits and cultural families in residential areas;

- Encourage the use of advanced and modern cremation methods in funeral practices to contribute to environmental protection, pollution control, land conservation, and sustainable development;

- Encourage economic sectors to participate in investing in the construction of crematorium facilities as well as researching, manufacturing, producing, and supplying modern and energy-efficient cremation equipment that ensures environmental hygiene.

II. OBJECTIVES:

- General objective: Gradually make the use of cremation a common burial method for the Vietnamese people in all localities across the country in a civilized, modern, land-saving, and environmentally friendly manner.

- Specific objectives by 2020:

+ For cities directly under the Central Government and above, the average rate of cremation usage should reach: 30%;

+ For other cities and towns, the average rate of cremation usage should reach: 15%;

+ For rural areas, the average rate of cremation usage should reach: 5%.

III. DIRECTIONS FOR SPECIFIC MECHANISMS AND POLICIES:

1. Regarding the use of cremation:

- Develop and organize the implementation of programs to promote the benefits of using cremation and mobilize people to participate in cremation;

- Develop a roadmap to implement the use of cremation as a replacement for other burial methods that occupy large areas of land in densely populated urban areas with convenient transportation and little arable land;

- Study and promulgate regulations mandating cremation for deceased persons who have highly contagious infectious diseases or other diseases that pose a high risk of community infection;

- Study and promulgate policies to support necessary costs for cremation services for policy beneficiaries, ethnic minorities, remote and mountainous regions ensuring environmental hygiene and land conservation;

- Study and promulgate mechanisms and policies to encourage people to use cremation including: full or partial financial support for cremation costs, transportation costs for the deceased to cremation facilities, and other related costs (ashes containers, ashes storage). The level of support will vary according to the socio-economic conditions of each locality and will be decided by the Provincial People's Committee.

2. Regarding planning of crematorium facilities and cemeteries:

- Review and supplement crematorium facilities in urban planning as a basis for establishing investment projects for crematorium construction;

- Study and supplement provisions on the arrangement of functional zones for ash storage after cremation in cemeteries.

3. Regarding investment in constructing crematorium facilities:

- Review mechanisms and policies related to incentives and encouragement for investment in crematorium construction; propose supplements and promulgate new mechanisms and policies suitable for Vietnam's socio-economic development conditions;

- Study and develop mechanisms and policies related to land, land clearance, and infrastructure construction outside the fence for crematorium construction projects;

- Develop mechanisms and policies to encourage socialization in investment in crematorium construction;

- Develop and propose preferential loan mechanisms for investment from the State budget and preferential credit for crematorium construction projects;

- Develop policies to support investment funding for crematorium construction in regions with ethnic minority traditions of cremation (Khmer, Cham, etc.).

4. Regarding science and technology:

- Study and propose mechanisms and policies to support funds for the application of scientific and technological progress in the field of cremation according to the current scientific research and technological mechanism;

- Study and establish regulations on exemption and reduction of import duties for new cremation technology equipment suitable for Vietnam's conditions;

- Strengthen and develop international cooperation in research and exchange of scientific and technological knowledge in the field of cremation;

- Encourage research, invention, and production of advanced and environmentally friendly cremation technologies.

5. Regarding training, capacity building, and personnel remuneration:

- Study and promulgate special policies and remuneration systems; ensure adequate material and spiritual life for staff serving in the cremation sector;

- Establish training programs to improve professional skills for staff working in the cremation sector;

- Strengthen international cooperation in training human resources in the cremation sector.

Article 2. Implementation

1. Ministry of Construction:

Lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to study amendments, supplements, or submit new regulations to the Government regarding cemetery construction, management, and use, including regulations on crematorium construction, management, and use, to be completed by 2015.

Study, amend, supplement, or develop new technical standards and norms for cemetery planning, design, and construction, crematorium buildings, funeral homes, and ash storage buildings, to be completed by 2014.

2. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment: Lead the study and promulgate specific land incentives for investment projects in crematorium construction within its authority or submit them to competent authorities for promulgation; establish air emission and wastewater discharge technical standards for crematorium buildings, to be completed by 2014; organize inspections, supervision, and monitoring of cremation service providers according to regulations to ensure environmental hygiene.

3. Ministry of Science and Technology: To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors in researching, applying, and developing cremation technology that meets environmental standards and criteria in Vietnam. Coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to guide service providers in selecting appropriate domestic and foreign technologies suitable for conditions in Vietnam.

4. Ministry of Health: To take the lead in researching and proposing regulations and guidelines on hygiene in cremation activities. Simultaneously research and propose regulations on mandatory cremation cases to ensure hygiene and prevent infectious diseases, to be completed by 2014.

5. Ministry of Planning and Investment: To take the lead in researching and proposing investment forms for constructing crematoria, mechanisms, and policies to encourage and mobilize domestic and foreign capital for the construction of crematoria.

6. Ministry of Finance: To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors in researching, building, and issuing or submitting to competent authorities for issuance of specific financial incentives and support mechanisms for investment in constructing crematoria. Review and supplement provisions on exemption and reduction of import taxes for new and advanced cremation equipment and technology suitable for conditions in Vietnam, to be completed by 2014.

7. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and political and social organizations to develop content and programs for propaganda and mobilization of the public to participate in using cremation methods, organizing economical and civilized funerals with appropriate forms.

8. Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs: To take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors in formulating and issuing or submitting to competent authorities for issuance of policies and benefits for those directly involved in cremation work at state-managed units and specific support policies for special groups receiving state support in using cremation methods, to be completed by 2014.

9. Ministry of Information and Communications: To take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism through the press, internet, and other mass media to organize extensive propaganda and mobilization to encourage the public to actively support and participate in using modern and civilized cremation methods.

10. Provincial People's Committees:

- To research and issue specific mechanisms and policies to encourage the use of cremation methods suitable for local economic and social conditions.

- To strengthen propaganda and mobilization efforts to promote cremation activities in residential areas within their jurisdiction.

- To establish and implement pilot projects for investing in the construction of crematoria suitable for local needs and conditions.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect from the date of signature.

Article 4. THE MINISTERS, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL MINISTRIES, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL AGENCIES, AND CHAIRMEN OF PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THIS DECISION./.