THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Circular No. 30/2013/TT-BNNPTNT of June 11, 2013, guiding the formulation of plans to use the top soil and offset the area of wet-rice farm land used for another purpose
Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 01/2008/ND-CP of January 3, 2008, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; the Government’s Decree No. 75/2009/ND-CP of September 10, 2009, amending Article 3 of the Government’s Decree No. 01/2008/ND-CP of January 3, 2008;
Pursuant to the 2003 Land Law;
Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 42/2012/ND-CP of May 11, 2012, on management and use of rice farm land;
At the proposal of the director of the Cultivation Department,
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgates the Circular to guide the formulation of plans to use the top soil and offset the area of wet-rice farm land used for another purpose.
Chapter I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Scope of regulation
This Circular guides the formulation and approval of plans to use the top soil of wet-rice farm land when it is used for another purpose, to improve poor-quality rice farm land and other arable land; and plans to reclaim, restore and improve other rice farm land to offset the area of wet-rice farm land used for another purpose under competent authorities’ land allocation or lease decisions (below referred to as plans).
Article 2. Subjects of application
1. Domestic and foreign organizations and persons (investors) allocated or leased by the State wet-rice farm land for non-agricultural use as stipulated at Point c, Clause 1, Article 5 of the Government’s Decree No. 42/2012/ND-CP of May 11, 2012, on management and use of rice farm land.
2. Other agencies, organizations and individuals involved in the appraisal, approval and examination of the implementation of the plans.
Article 3. Interpretation of terms
In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:
1. Plough layer means the top layer of wet-rice farm land having physical and chemical properties suitable for growing rice. Various kinds of soil have different thicknesses according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s regulation on the classification of rice farm land.
 2. Top soil of the plough layer (below referred to as the top soil) means the upper layer of the plough layer of wet-rice farm land that needs to be stripped when the land is used for another purpose to improve poor-quality rice farm land and other arable land.