The Justice Ministry’s Legal Document Inspection Department protested HCM City’s controversial decision on agricultural and cooking business on August 31.

In HCM City, fruits and vegetable must be sold in “civilised and convenient” markets, supermarkets, trade centres and stores.

The city on July 31 2009 issued Decision 64, which took effect on August 10, 2009, stipulating that fresh, frozen, semi-processed meat of all kinds, internal organs of cattle and poultry, fresh, frozen and dried seafood, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetable must be sold in “civilised and convenient” markets, supermarkets, trade centres and stores.

Under this decision, all people who sell these products outside markets, supermarkets, trade centres and stores have to stop.

In a dispatch sent to HCM City authorities on August 31, the Legal Document Inspection Department said that the city’s “civilised and convenient stores” is not defined in any existing legal document.

According to this agency, some clauses in this decision are vague, and could lead to different ways of understanding in implementation.

It also pointed out that this decision is unfeasible for implementation in the suburbs, where there are no “civilised and convenient” stores.

The agency said that HCM City’s Decision 64 is unrealistic and restricts the freedom of businesses.

The department asked HCM City to review and amend the decision and report to the agency within 30 days.

Decision 64 has not been supported by local people. A deputy director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade told VietNamNet that this decision was not discussed carefully, resulting in many shortcomings.

Cao Nhat