Decree No. 55/2008/NĐ-CP detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Consumer Protection

DECREE

Detailed Implementation Regulations for the Consumer Protection Ordinance

_____________________

THE GOVERNMENT

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

Based on Ordinance No. 13/1999/PL-UBTVQH10 on Consumer Protection dated April 27, 1999;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Industry and Trade,

DECREE:

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of RegulationThis Decree provides detailed implementation regulations for the Consumer Protection Ordinance regarding the responsibilities of organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services; consumer protection organizations; handling complaints and reports from consumers; and state management of consumer protection.

Article 2. Applicability

This Decree applies to the following organizations and individuals:

1. Consumers;

2. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services;

3. Consumer protection organizations;

4. State agencies responsible for consumer protection;

5. Other agencies and organizations related to consumer protection activities as stipulated in this Decree and other relevant laws.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. "Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services" refers to organizations and individuals implementing one or more stages of the investment process, from production to consumption of goods or provision of services in the market with the aim of profit, including organizations and individuals conducting export, import, and distribution of goods and services.

2. "Consumer complaints" refer to the act of consumers requesting organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services to resolve demands related to goods and services provided by such organizations and individuals when they believe their legitimate rights and interests have been violated.

Article 4. Basic Principles of Consumer Protection Activities

Consumer protection activities shall be carried out according to the following basic principles:

1. All legitimate rights and interests of consumers must be respected and protected in accordance with the law.

2. Any acts violating the legitimate rights and interests of consumers must be promptly and strictly dealt with, and compensation must be provided if damage has occurred, in accordance with the law.

3. Protecting the rights and interests of consumers is the shared responsibility of the entire society.

Article 5. Prohibited Acts for Organizations and Individuals Engaged in Trading Goods and Services

It is prohibited for organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services to carry out any of the following acts:

1. Proposing illegal rules, compelling consumers in sales agreements and service agreements.

2. Delaying or prolonging the performance of civil liabilities when infringing upon consumer rights.

3. Other prohibited acts as prescribed by law.

Chapter II

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN TRADING GOODS AND SERVICES

Article 6. Responsibility to Provide Timely and Accurate Information

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services are responsible for:

a) Providing timely, truthful, and accurate information to consumers about the goods and services they provide;

b) Fully labeling goods in accordance with the provisions of the law;

c) Publicly displaying prices of various goods and services at their business locations;

d) Providing user guides for consumers on how to use goods and services;

e) Fully complying with the invoicing and documentation requirements under the law and delivering sales invoices for goods and services to consumers.

2. It is prohibited to engage in any advertising, promotion, display, introduction of products, or other acts that mislead consumers about goods and services.

Article 7. Responsibility for Ensuring Standards, Measurement, and Quality

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services shall be responsible for ensuring that the standards and quality of their goods and services comply with commitments and agreements made with consumers, and must ensure measurement of goods and services in accordance with the provisions of the law on measurement.

2. In cases where the law requires goods and services to be announced, registered for standards and quality, conformity declaration, conformity certification, conformity certification, and conformity certification, organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services must implement announcements, certifications, or registrations in accordance with the law and bear responsibility for ensuring that goods and services comply with published or registered technical standards and regulations.

3. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services must comply with the provisions of the law on quality, hygiene, safety, and other related laws when producing and trading goods and services that are not subject to standard and quality announcements.

4. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services must regularly inspect goods and services to ensure compliance with the standards, measurements, and quality stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Article before supplying them to consumers; they must promptly take corrective measures, handle the situation, and publicly announce on mass media regarding goods and services circulating in the market that do not meet standards, measurements, and quality requirements.

5. In addition to the responsibilities stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Article, organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services must fully perform other responsibilities as prescribed by the law on standards, measurements, and quality of goods and services.

Article 8. Warranty Responsibility

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services shall be responsible for:

a) Fully performing warranty obligations for goods and services provided by themselves according to agreements or relevant legal provisions;

b) Announcing conditions, duration, location, and procedures for warranties prior to circulating goods and services in the market;

c) Explaining to consumers about the conditions, duration, location, and procedures for warranties that have been announced and providing relevant documents related to the warranty of goods and services.

2. User manuals and documents related to the warranty of goods and services stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article must be in Vietnamese and comply with other relevant legal provisions.

Article 9. Responsibility for Ensuring Consumer Safety

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services are responsible for ensuring consumer safety when using goods and services provided by themselves; they must provide full information on product safety to consumers; they must fully comply with the provisions of the law on ensuring product safety.

2. For goods and services whose use may pose risks to health, life, property, and the environment, organizations and individuals producing and trading goods and services must warn consumers about these risks in advance; clearly explain and guide the use of goods and preventive measures against potential harm.

3. In cases where damage to health, life, and property occurs to consumers when using goods and services in accordance with the instructions provided by organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services, such organizations and individuals must immediately take all measures to prevent further damage and compensate consumers for their losses.

Article 10. Responsibility for handling consumer complaints

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services shall be responsible for promptly and timely resolving all consumer complaints regarding goods and services provided by themselves; establishing and publicly posting procedures for handling customer complaints at business locations.

2. The resolution of consumer complaints shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Chapter IV of this Decree and other relevant laws.

Chapter III

CONSUMER RIGHTS PROTECTION ORGANIZATIONS

Article 11. Consumer rights protection organizations

1. Consumer rights protection organizations are social organizations of consumers established on a voluntary, equal basis without discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, belief, education level, or profession, and they serve as representative organizations to protect consumer rights as prescribed by law.

2. The establishment of consumer rights protection organizations shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant legal provisions governing the establishment of social organizations.

Article 12. Principles of operation of consumer rights protection organizations

The activities of consumer rights protection organizations in protecting consumer rights must comply with the following basic principles:

1. All activities of consumer rights protection organizations must aim to support or represent consumers in protecting their legitimate rights and interests as prescribed by law.

2. The activities of consumer rights protection organizations shall not be for profit-making purposes.

3. Other principles as prescribed by relevant laws concerning the activities of social organizations.

Article 13. Rights and obligations of consumer rights protection organizations

1. In the course of protecting consumer rights, consumer rights protection organizations have the following rights:

a) Receiving consumer complaints and organizing mediation between consumers and organizations or individuals engaged in trading goods and services;

b) Representing consumers in lodging complaints to organizations or individuals engaged in trading goods and services; reporting to competent state agencies; initiating lawsuits before courts upon authorization by consumers;

c) Carrying out activities related to state tasks and receiving financial support from the state budget as stipulated in Article 14 of this Decree;

d) Participating in providing opinions to state management agencies on laws, policies, directions, plans, and measures for protecting consumer rights;

đ) Other rights as prescribed by law and the charter of consumer rights protection organizations.

2. In the course of protecting consumer rights, consumer rights protection organizations have the following obligations:

a) Guiding and assisting consumers when requested by consumers;

b) Adhering to the operational principles prescribed in Article 12 of this Decree;

c) Ensuring objectivity and fairness during representation of consumers;

d) Other obligations as prescribed by law and the charter of consumer rights protection organizations.

Article 14. Implementation of activities related to state tasks

1. Consumer rights protection organizations may be assigned by the competent authority specified in Clause 2 of this Article to carry out one or more activities related to state tasks prescribed in Clauses 2, 4, 5, and 6 of Article 18 of the Consumer Protection Ordinance.

2. The authority to assign the implementation of one or more activities related to state tasks is defined as follows:

a) The Prime Minister decides on the assignment of activities related to state tasks to central-level consumer rights protection organizations;

b) The Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities (hereinafter referred to as the Provincial People's Committee) decides on the assignment of activities related to state tasks to provincial and centrally-administered city-level consumer rights protection organizations under their management.

3. When implementing activities related to state tasks for consumer rights protection, consumer rights protection organizations will receive full or partial financial support from the state budget for the tasks assigned according to the laws on the state budget.

Chapter IV

RESOLUTION OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS

Article 15. Organizations and individuals subject to complaints

Upon discovering that their legitimate rights and interests have been infringed upon, consumers or their authorized representatives may lodge complaints with the following organizations and individuals:

1. Organizations and individuals engaged in trading goods and services that have sold goods or provided services.

2. Other organizations and individuals responsible for goods and services as prescribed by law.

Article 16. Form of Complaint

Except where otherwise provided by law, consumers may lodge complaints in any form.

Article 17. Limitation Period for Complaints

Unless otherwise provided by relevant laws, the limitation period for consumer complaints is six months from the date the consumer notifies the organization or individual providing goods or services about the violation of their legitimate rights and interests.

Article 18. Acceptance and Resolution of Complaints

1. Organizations or individuals providing goods or services must issue a complaint acceptance receipt and resolve the consumer's complaint upon receiving it. The complaint acceptance receipt can be in the form of a written document or email and must clearly state the content of the complaint, the resolution request, and the specific timeframe for resolving the complaint.

2. In cases where the complaint under Clause 1 of this Article is resolved immediately upon the consumer lodging the complaint and reaching an agreement with the consumer, organizations or individuals providing goods or services do not need to issue a complaint acceptance receipt.

3. Unless otherwise provided by relevant laws or in the case stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article, or where the parties have agreed on a timeframe for resolving the complaint, organizations or individuals providing goods or services are obligated to resolve the consumer's complaint within seven working days from the date of receipt of the complaint.

4. In cases where the subject of the complaint affects the health or life of the consumer or other urgent cases, the timeframe for resolving the consumer's complaint is three working days from the date of receipt of the complaint.

5. The resolution of consumer complaints must be carried out promptly and in accordance with the principle of ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of consumers. The results of the complaint resolution must be notified in writing to the consumer or by another method accepted by the consumer.

Article 19. Resolution of Consumer Complaints through Mediation Procedures at State Management Agencies

1. The mediation procedures at state management agencies as prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article shall apply in the following cases:

a) When both the consumer and the organization or individual providing goods or services agree to mediate at a state management agency;

b) When the consumer requests a state management agency to mediate if the organization or individual providing goods or services does not resolve the complaint within the timeframe specified in Clauses 3 and 4 of Article 18 of this Decree or if the consumer disagrees with the resolution result of the organization or individual providing goods or services.

2. The authority to mediate is as follows:

a) The Department of Industry and Trade is responsible for assisting the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province in mediating consumer complaints within its jurisdiction;

b) The Competition Management Agency is responsible for assisting the Minister of Industry and Trade in mediating consumer complaints when the matter is deemed complex, involving multiple sectors and large-scale areas.

3. The procedure for handling mediation requests as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article shall be conducted as follows:

a) The mediation request must be made in writing, specifying the complaint case, the process of handling the case, and the specific mediation request;

b) Upon receiving the mediation request, the competent authority will examine the case to organize mediation;

c) Mediation proceedings are conducted confidentially. The parties involved may participate in mediation themselves or appoint a legal representative;

d) The parties participating in mediation shall prepare a mediation record with the confirmation of the mediation agency.

4. During the mediation process, the mediation agency has the following powers and responsibilities:

a) To require the parties involved in the complaint case to attend mediation;

b) To require the parties involved to provide necessary information;

c) To confirm the mediation record;

d) To ensure confidentiality during the mediation process.

5. During the mediation process, the consumer and the organization or individual providing goods or services have the following responsibilities:

a) To participate in mediation as required by the mediation agency;

b) To provide necessary information related to the complaint case as required by the mediation agency;

c) To implement agreements recorded in the successful mediation record.

Article 20. Responsibilities of State Management Agencies during the Process of Handling Consumer Complaints

During the process of handling consumer complaints, state management agencies shall be responsible for the following:

1. Guiding consumers to file complaints in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. Inspecting and supervising the process of resolving complaints by organizations and individuals engaged in goods and service trading, and conducting violations handling within their authority.

3. Conducting mediation in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 19 of this Decree.

Article 21. Right to Withdraw Complaints of Consumers

Consumers have the right to withdraw their complaints at any stage of the complaint resolution process. The withdrawal of a complaint must be made in writing.

Article 22. Resolution of Consumer Accusations

1. The competent state agency as prescribed by the law on accusations shall be responsible for receiving and resolving consumer accusations.

2. The procedures and formalities for resolving consumer accusations shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on accusations and the provisions of this Decree.

Article 23. Right to Initiate Legal Action of Consumers

1. In all cases, consumers have the right to initiate legal action before the competent court at any time during the complaint resolution process to request protection of their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the provisions of the law.

2. The procedures and formalities for initiating legal action at the court shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the law on civil procedure.

Chapter V

STATE MANAGEMENT ON CONSUMER RIGHTS PROTECTION

Section 1

STATE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CONSUMER RIGHTS PROTECTION

Article 24. Responsibilities of State Management Agencies for Consumer Rights Protection

1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall be responsible before the Government for uniformly managing state affairs concerning consumer rights protection nationwide. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has specific powers and tasks as follows:

a) Organizing research, planning, and drafting programs and projects to submit to the competent authority for approval; drafting normative legal documents to submit to the competent state management agency for issuance and implementation;

b) Coordinating with relevant agencies to organize the dissemination, popularization, and education on laws protecting consumer rights;

c) Directing and guiding provincial Departments of Industry and Trade to implement consumer rights protection work locally;

d) Taking the lead and coordinating with related agencies and organizations to conduct inspections and checks on compliance with laws protecting consumer rights as stipulated in this Decree and related laws;

đ) Receiving consumer accusations and resolving them within their authority or referring them to the competent state management agency for resolution in accordance with the law;

e) Receiving and resolving mediation requests in accordance with the provisions of this Decree;

g) Handling violations of laws protecting consumer rights within their authority;

h) Implementing international cooperation activities on consumer rights protection within their authority;

i) Performing other tasks and powers as prescribed by law.

2. The Competition Administration Agency shall assist the Minister of Industry and Trade in implementing state management over consumer rights protection in accordance with this Decree and other relevant laws.

Article 25. State Management Responsibilities for Protecting Consumer Rights at the Local Level

1. The provincial People's Committee shall be responsible for implementing state management over protecting consumer rights within its jurisdiction. The provincial People's Committee shall have the following specific tasks and powers:

a) Directing and urging organizations and individuals to comply with legal provisions on protecting consumer rights within their jurisdiction;

b) Coordinating with relevant agencies to organize the dissemination, popularization, and education on laws protecting consumer rights;

c) Leading and coordinating with relevant agencies and organizations to conduct inspections and checks on compliance with laws protecting consumer rights within their jurisdiction in accordance with this Decree and other related legal provisions;

d) Receiving complaints from consumers and resolving them within their authority or referring them to competent state management agencies for resolution in accordance with the law;

đ) Receiving and resolving mediation requests in accordance with this Decree;

e) Handling violations of laws protecting consumer rights within their jurisdiction within their authority;

g) Perform other tasks and powers as prescribed by law.

2. The Department of Industry and Trade is the specialized agency responsible for advising the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee to implement state management functions over protecting consumer rights within the province in accordance with this Decree and other related legal provisions.

Article 26. Responsibilities of Ministries, Agencies Equivalent to Ministries, and Government Agencies in Consumer Protection Work

1. Within the scope of their functions, tasks, and authorities, Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and government agencies shall be responsible for coordinating with state management agencies for protecting consumers to perform the following tasks and powers:

a) Drafting and submitting to the Government for issuance, or issuing within their authority, normative legal documents within their industry or field that relate to protecting consumer rights;

b) Directing, inspecting, and checking the implementation of legal provisions on protecting consumer rights within their industry or field;

c) Conducting or jointly conducting inspections and checks on compliance with laws protecting consumer rights of business organizations and individuals selling goods and services upon request from state management agencies for protecting consumer rights;

d) Resolving complaints and handling violations of laws protecting consumer rights within their authority;

đ) Promoting education, disseminating knowledge, and laws on protecting consumer rights within their industry or field;

e) Performing other tasks and powers as prescribed by law.

2. In addition to the responsibilities stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article, for some Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, and government agencies closely related to consumer protection work, the Government assigns specific responsibilities as follows:

a) The Ministry of Health shall manage, inspect, and audit pharmaceuticals, medicinal herbs, medical equipment and devices, cosmetics directly affecting human health, the quality of fresh food, and industrially processed food;

b) The Ministry of Construction shall manage, inspect, and audit all stages from planning, design, construction, to acceptance of civil construction projects;

c) The Ministry of Transport shall manage, inspect, and audit the quality of waterway, road, rail, air transport vehicles, railway stations, airports, ports, and equipment used with these transport means to ensure safety for consumers in transportation services or when consumers purchase such means and equipment for use;

d) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other specialized ministries to manage, inspect, and audit activities of publicity, information, and advertising about goods, cultural products, and services on mass media;

đ) The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall manage, inspect, and audit the quality of fertilizers, veterinary drugs, plant protection chemicals, seeds, livestock breeds, biological products serving cultivation and breeding, animal feed; lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to manage, inspect, and audit the quality of various types of aquatic animals and plants, fish feed, seafood, aquaculture drugs and veterinary drugs, fishing gear, and fishing services;

e) The Ministry of Information and Communications shall manage, inspect, and audit the quality and prices of postal and express delivery services; telecommunications and internet, broadcasting transmission; radio frequency; press and publication activities in accordance with the law;

g) The Ministry of Science and Technology shall uniformly manage, inspect, and audit scientific and technological activities, product and commodity quality standards, intellectual property in accordance with the law;

h) The Ministry of Education and Training shall research and develop teaching materials on consumer protection issues; study and submit proposals to the Government on incorporating consumer protection issues into the national education program;

i) Vietnam Television and Voice of Vietnam shall regularly update and publish information related to consumer protection; allocate appropriate broadcast time to promote issues related to consumer protection laws;

Section 2

INSPECTION, AUDIT AND VIOLATION HANDLING

Article 27. Inspection of Consumer Protection Work

Inspections in the field of consumer protection shall be carried out in accordance with the law on inspection and other related laws.

Article 28. Cases for Consumer Protection Rights Inspection

The competent authority conducting inspections shall consider and decide to inspect the compliance with laws on consumer protection rights in the following cases:

1. When resolving complaints from consumers regarding violations of laws on consumer protection rights or other sudden inspections concerning compliance with laws on consumer protection rights.

2. In accordance with the inspection program and plan for regular compliance checks with laws on consumer protection rights that have been approved by the competent authority as stipulated in Article 29 of this Decree.

Article 29. Regular Inspection Program and Plan

The regular inspection program and plan are developed annually and must clearly define requirements, contents, scope, subjects, timeframes, and must be approved by the competent authority. The development and approval of regular inspection programs and plans are carried out according to the following provisions:

1. The Minister or head of a ministry-level agency is responsible for directing the development and approval of regular inspection programs and plans for compliance with laws on consumer protection rights within their respective sectors and fields of management.

2. The Chairman of the People's Committee at the provincial level is responsible for directing the development and approval of regular inspection programs and plans for compliance with laws on consumer protection rights within their respective local areas of management.

Article 30. Inspection Decision

1. When there is a basis to conduct an inspection of compliance with laws on consumer protection rights, the competent inspection authority issues an inspection decision.

2. The content of the inspection decision includes:

a) Legal basis for inspection;

b) Content, requirements, and scope of the inspection;

c) Inspection period;

d) Members of the inspection team; rights and responsibilities of those performing inspection tasks;

đ) Rights and obligations of the inspected entity.

Article 31. Rights and Responsibilities of the Inspection Team

1. When conducting inspections, the inspection team has the following powers:

a) Requesting individuals and organizations related to provide necessary information and documents for the inspection work; requesting relevant agencies and organizations to assign personnel to participate in the inspection work;

b) Temporarily suspending actions showing signs of violating regulations on consumer protection rights if such actions are deemed to cause damage or pose a risk of causing damage to state interests or the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, and citizens;

c) Requesting the competent authority to temporarily seize money, objects, means, suspend or revoke certificates and licenses related in cases where there is evidence of law violations and immediate prevention and handling are necessary;

c) Organizing expert appraisal in accordance with the law;

d) Other rights as prescribed by law.

2. When conducting inspections, the inspection team has the following responsibilities:

a) Reporting and recommending the agency issuing the decision to establish the inspection team to transfer the case file to the investigation agency for handling in accordance with the law if there are indications of criminal offenses;

b) Reporting the inspection results and recommending measures to prevent and handle the situation after the inspection to the agency issuing the decision to establish the inspection team;

c) Fully implementing confidentiality of information and documents related to the inspection provided by the inspected entity in accordance with the law.

d) Other responsibilities as prescribed by law.

Article 32. Rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals subject to inspection

1. During the inspection process, organizations and individuals that are the subjects of inspection have the following rights:

a) To refuse the inspection if there is evidence that the inspection is not being conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Decree and other relevant laws;

b) To make recommendations and explanations regarding the contents of the inspection;

c) To receive the inspection conclusion;

d) To lodge complaints and denunciations according to the law regarding violations of the law during the inspection process;

e) To request compensation for damages caused by unlawful measures taken by the inspectors;

2. During the inspection process, organizations and individuals that are the subjects of inspection have the following obligations:

a) To appoint authorized persons to work with the inspection team or inspectors;

b) To provide information, documents, and reports promptly upon the request of the person assigned the inspection task and to bear legal responsibility for the provided information, documents, and reports;

c) To strictly comply with requests, recommendations, decisions, and conclusions related to the inspection.

Article 33. Handling Violations

Organizations and individuals who violate the law on protecting consumer rights shall be subject to administrative penalties or criminal prosecution depending on the nature and severity of the violation, and must fully compensate for any damage caused according to the law.

Section 3

COOPERATION IN IMPLEMENTING CONSUMER RIGHTS PROTECTION WORK

Article 34. Responsibilities for cooperation in protecting consumer rights

1. All agencies, organizations, and individuals have the responsibility to timely conduct and coordinate activities to protect consumer rights, and to provide all relevant information upon the request of agencies responsible for protecting consumer rights.

2. Except in urgent cases or where otherwise provided by law, within five working days from the date of receiving a written request for cooperation from agencies responsible for protecting consumer rights, the requested agencies, organizations, and individuals must implement the cooperation requirements.

3. Agencies, organizations, and individuals required to cooperate who fail to implement or delay implementation of the requirements set forth in Clause 2 of this Article shall bear responsibility according to the law. In case their failure to implement or delay in implementing the cooperation requirements causes damage to consumers, they must compensate for such damage. 

Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 35. Effective Date

This Decree takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette, replacing Government Decree No. 69/2001/NĐ-CP dated October 2, 2001, detailing the implementation of the Ordinance on Protecting Consumer Rights.

Article 36. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is responsible for organizing the implementation of this Decree, coordinating with other Ministries and sectors.

2. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and Heads of agencies directly under the Government are responsible for organizing the implementation of regulations on protecting consumer rights within their respective fields of management.

3. Provincial People's Committees are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Decree within their respective localities./.