Under this Joint Circular, which takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, the provincial/municipal Services of Agriculture and Rural Development are the professional agencies under the provincial/municipal People's Committees, advising and assisting the latter in performing the function of State management over agriculture, forestry, salt-making, irrigation and rural development in the provinces or cities as well as over public services in the agriculture and rural development sector. They also perform a number of tasks and powers under authorization of the provincial/municipal People's Committees and law provisions.

The provincial/municipal Services of Agriculture and Rural Development are subject to the direction and management over their organizational apparatuses, payrolls and working domains by the provincial/municipal People's Committees as well as the professional direction and examination by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the provinces or centrally-run cities where conditions do not permit the setting up of provincial/municipal Services of Fisheries, the provincial/municipal Services of Agriculture and Rural Development shall assist the provincial/municipal People's Committees in performing the function of State management over fisheries. The tasks and organizational apparatuses of State management over fisheries in localities shall comply with the guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries.

This Joint Circular takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. To annul Joint Circular No. 07 LB/TT of April 24, 1996 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government's Commission for Organization and Personnel and Joint Circular No. 03/1998/TTLT-BNN-BTCCBCP of April 27, 1998 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Government's Commission for Organization and Personnel guiding supplements to Joint Circular No. 07 LB/TT.- (Summary)