DECISION No. 821-TTg OF NOVEMBER 6, 1996 OF THE PRIME MINISTER ON THE EXPLOITATION AND EXPORT OF "PO MU" (FOKIENIA HODGINSII) TIMBER

THE PRIME MINISTER

DECIDES:

Article 1.- To close the "po mu" (Fokienia Hodginsii) forests, particularly those in the provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Son La, Lai Chau, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Lam Dong, Dac Lac, Gia Lai and Ninh Thuan.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall have to guide those localities which have "po mu" forests to enhance their managing and protective measures and to severely punish any violations.

Article 2.- The "po mu" timber already exploited and products made from it shall be handled as follows:

- With regard to those products completely processed in accordance with the specifications and types stipulated in Decision No.664-TTg of October 18, 1995 of the Prime Minister on the export of timber and forest products, they are allowed to continue to be exported;

- With regard to those products completely processed but not in accordance with the specifications stipulated in Decision No.664-TTg, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development shall cooperate with the Ministry of Trade, the General Department of Customs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Presidents of the People�s Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government to direct the production units to inventory clearly the quantity and type of each item; if they are found conforming to Decision No.624-TTg of December 29, 1993 of the Prime Minister, they will be allowed to be exported, up to March 31, 1997 at the latest.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of Trade, and the Head of the General Department of Customs shall take the responsibility before the Prime Minister for the export of products made from "po mu" timber;

- With regard to logs, planks, rectangular blocks and semi-processed timber still kept in store at the date when this Decision was signed, they shall not be allowed to be further processed. After inventorying them, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall have to make a report, propose a solution, and submit it to the Prime Minister for decision.

Article 3.- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the People�s Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall have to guide and direct the local production units and the joint ventures with foreign countries which process "po mu" timber to shift to the production of other items.

Article 4.- This Decision takes effect from the date of its signing. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Trade, the Head of the General Department of Customs, and the Presidents of the People�s Committees of the provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall have to implement this Decision.

For the Prime Minister,

Deputy Prime Minister,

TRAN DUC LUONG