Legal reforms, resolution of voters' recommendations stand out

Improving the legal framework and legislative drafting

Reporting on institutional and legal reforms, as well as the handling of voters' petitions and recommendations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's Conference reviewing the first six months and outlining tasks for the remaining six months of 2026, Mr. Phan Tuan Hung, Director General of the Department of Legal Affairs, said that over the past six months, the Ministry has undertaken a substantial workload in drafting legal normative documents, ensuring consistency and timely issuance to effectively support state management requirements.

Among the highlights was the Ministry's advisory role in helping the Government issue nearly 30 decrees and resolutions, focusing on key areas such as land administration, environmental protection, water resources, forestry, fisheries, livestock production, and disaster prevention and control.

Notably, a number of amended and supplemented decrees were promulgated in a timely manner to address practical implementation challenges, particularly those related to the Land Law and the Law on Environmental Protection, as well as special mechanisms to resolve long-standing stalled projects. At the same time, a series of decrees on administrative sanctions in sectors including forestry, animal health, livestock production, fisheries, and hydrometeorology were issued in a coordinated manner, helping strengthen regulatory discipline and improve law enforcement effectiveness.

In parallel, the Ministry swiftly finalized a range of forward-looking policies on greenhouse gas emission reduction, carbon market development, EPR, and forest carbon sequestration and storage services. These efforts demonstrate the Ministry's proactive approach to advancing sustainable development and responding to international integration requirements.

At the ministerial level, the regulatory framework continued to be strengthened with the issuance of 26 circulars during the first half of the year. These circulars cover virtually all areas under the Ministry's management, including animal quarantine, fishing vessel management, water resources, environmental protection, new rural development, and poverty reduction. Their timely issuance has helped translate the provisions of laws and government decrees into practical implementation, ensuring consistency and feasibility in enforcement.

All voter recommendations responded to on time

In addition to institutional and legal reform, Mr. Hung noted that the Ministry's handling of voters' petitions and recommendations also delivered outstanding results, backed by clear and measurable outcomes. During the 10th Session of the 15th National Assembly, the Ministry received and processed 225 recommendations, with 100% of them responded to within the prescribed deadline, leaving no outstanding cases.

Subsequently, during the 1st Session of the 16th National Assembly, the Ministry received an additional 130 recommendations, bringing the total number requiring prompt handling to 355. This reflects not only the considerable workload faced by the Ministry but also its strong sense of responsibility and its capacity to process and respond to public concerns efficiently.

Not only were deadlines consistently met, but the quality of the Ministry's responses also improved significantly. Responses have become more specific and closely aligned with practical needs, with many recommendations addressed through policy revisions or amendments to legal provisions rather than general explanations.

The processing procedure has also been standardized. All draft responses to voters' recommendations are subject to review by the Department of Legal Affairs before being submitted to the Ministry's leadership for approval, ensuring consistency and high quality.

Maintaining momentum while prioritizing quality

Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, Mr. Hung said the Ministry will maintain its implementation pace while placing greater emphasis on the quality and substance of its work.

A key priority will be finalizing draft laws on schedule, with 100% submitted within the required timeframe and approximately 90–95% of dossiers meeting requirements upon their first submission. The legislative drafting process will continue to be digitalized, with the goal of processing more than 80% of dossiers electronically, reducing processing time by 20–30%.

The Ministry will also accelerate administrative reform by simplifying at least 10–15% of administrative procedures and reducing business compliance costs by around 20%. Law implementation will be more closely monitored, ensuring that 100% of legal documents are subject to implementation oversight and that 70–80% of implementation issues are resolved in a timely manner.

With regard to voters' recommendations, the Ministry aims not only to maintain a 100% on-time response rate, but also to increase the proportion of cases fully resolved to 85–90%. Greater accountability will be placed on unit heads, while a digital monitoring system will track progress, ensuring clear responsibilities, transparent implementation, and measurable outcomes.

Building on the achievements of the first half of 2026 and the tasks and solutions outlined for the months ahead, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is making its institutional and legal reform efforts, as well as its handling of voters' recommendations, increasingly substantive, effective, and results-oriented. These efforts provide an important foundation for the sector's sustainable development and its ability to meet the evolving needs of society, as well as the growing expectations of citizens and businesses.