China abolishes, lowers 15 fees for farmers
( 2004-01-05 21:04) (Xinhua)
The Chinese government is to abolish, exempt or lower 15 charges on the
country's 900 million farmers in a bid to reduce their excessive financial
burdens.
The Ministry of Finance and the State Development and Reform Commission
published the list of the 15 charges, involving quarantine certificates,
licensing fees for using water resources, education, land-use rights
certificates, and charges for fishing boat inspections.
The two departments also urged regional governments to abolish, retain or
lower local charges on farmers.
The government will not approve any new administrative fee charges on farmers
before the end of 2005 unless they are required by law.
The government has abolished at least 100 taxes and charges imposed by
central and local governments on farmers in recent years as most Chinese farmers
cannot afford them.
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