Dossier and Procedure for Exemption and Reduction of Environmental Service

Circular 22 stipulates that in case of force majeure risks, the party using forest environmental services shall prepare 01 dossier requesting exemption or reduction of payment for forest environmental services and send it to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (for parties using forest environmental services within a watershed located in the administrative boundaries of one province) or the General Department of Forestry (for parties using forest environmental services within a watershed located in the administrative boundaries of two or more provinces). The exemption or reduction dossier includes:

- A written request for exemption or reduction from the party using forest environmental services, clearly stating the cause, content of the force majeure risk; extent of loss of capital and property; content of the exemption or reduction request; duration of the requested exemption or reduction;- A photocopy of the court decision in case of loss of civil act capacity; a photocopy of the death certificate or missing person certificate in case of death or missing person for individuals using forest environmental services;- A detailed list of losses of capital and property for organizations using forest environmental services;

Additionally, Circular 22 provides as follows regarding the exemption and reduction procedure:

- For dossiers submitted directly, within 1/2 business day from the time of receiving the dossier, the recipient must notify the submitting party in writing about the validity of the dossier.- For dossiers received by mail or online, within 02 business days from the date of receiving the dossier, the recipient must notify the submitting party in writing about the validity of the dossier.- Within 07 business days from the receipt of a valid request dossier, the recipient shall decide to establish a Verification Team.- Within 07 business days from the establishment decision, the Verification Team must conduct verification. Within 07 business days after the verification is completed, the Verification Team must complete the verification report and send it to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or the General Department of Forestry.- Within 07 business days from the receipt of the verification report, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development shall complete the report and send it to the Provincial People's Committee for the decision on exemption or reduction for organizations and individuals using forest environmental services within a watershed located in the administrative boundaries of one province; the General Department of Forestry shall complete the report and send it to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the decision on exemption or reduction for organizations and individuals using forest environmental services within a watershed located in the administrative boundaries of two or more provinces.- The exemption or reduction decision is sent to the Forest Protection and Development Fund, organizations, and individuals using forest environmental services for implementation.

See details Circular 22/2017/TT-BNNPTNT effective from January 1, 2018.

-Thao Uyen-

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