Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization

Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization

Order of the President [2004] No. 16

June 25, 2004

The Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization, which was adopted at the 10th session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on June 25, 2004, is released hereby and shall take effect as of November 1, 2004.

President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao

Appendix: Law of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization

Adopted at the 10th session of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress on June 25, 2004

Contents
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Scientific Research and Development
Chapter III Quality Safeguards
Chapter IV Widespread Use
Chapter V Commercialized Services
Chapter VI Support Measures
Chapter VII Legal Responsibility
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted with a view to encouraging and supporting peasants and agricultural production and operation organizations to use advanced and applicable agricultural machines, promoting the mechanization of agriculture and developing modern agriculture.

Article 2 For purposes of this Law, mechanization of agriculture means the process of improving the conditions of agricultural production and operation and continually raising the technological level of agricultural production and increasing the economic and ecological benefits of agriculture by equipping agriculture with advanced and applicable agricultural machines.
For purposes of this Law, agricultural machines mean the machines and equipment used for agricultural production, primary processing of agricultural products and other activities relating to farming.

Article 3 People's governments at or above the county level shall incorporate the promotion of agricultural mechanization into their plans of national economic and social development, and take such measures as financial support, preferential taxation policy as prescribed by the State and financial aid, in order to gradually increase capital input into the mechanization of agriculture, give full play to the role of market mechanism, and promote the development of agricultural mechanization in compliance with the principles of adapting to local conditions, ensuring economic results, guaranteeing safety and protecting the environment.

Article 4 The State provides guidance and support to peasants and agricultural production and operation organizations in their efforts to select advanced and applicable agricultural machines on their own. No units or individuals shall compel peasants and agricultural production and operation organizations to purchase agricultural machines they designate.

Article 5 The State takes measures to publicize and disseminate scientific and technological knowledge about agricultural mechanization, to train people in professional skills needed for such mechanization, to promote information services for and to raise the level of such mechanization.

Article 6 The administrative departments for agriculture under the State Council and other departments in charge of the work of agricultural mechanization shall, in accordance with the division of their respective duties, closely cooperate with each other, joining the efforts in successfully promoting agricultural mechanization.
The departments in charge of the work of agricultural mechanization under the local people's governments at or above the county level and other departments concerned shall, in accordance with the division of their respective duties, closely cooperate with each other, joining efforts in successfully promoting agricultural mechanization within their own administrative areas.

Chapter II Scientific Research and Development

Article 7 People's governments at or above the provincial level and the relevant departments under them shall make arrangements for the units concerned to take such measures as tackling key technical problems and making experiments and demonstrations for the purpose of promoting basic and key scientific researches in agricultural machinery for the public good and the wide use of advanced and applicable agricultural machines.

Article 8 The State supports the scientific research institutions, colleges and universities concerned to redouble their efforts in scientific and technological research in agricultural mechanization and, based on the different conditions of agricultural production and different needs of peasants, to make research and develop advanced and applicable agricultural machines; and it supports the efforts made to combine scientific research and teaching of agricultural machinery with their manufacturing and the promotion of their wide use in order that agricultural machinery will be geared to the needs of the technological development of agricultural production.

Article 9 The State supports the manufactures of agricultural machines in their efforts to develop advanced and applicable agricultural machines and, by adopting advanced technologies, techniques and materials, to enhance the quality and raise the technological level of their products, reduce their costs of production and provide serialized and standardized agricultural machines characterized by multifunction, high quality, energy saving and reasonable price.

Article 10 The State supports the introduction and use of advanced agricultural machines, their key spare parts and technology, and encourages the efforts to absorb foreign funds for purpose of conducting research in, developing, manufacturing and dealing in agricultural machines.

Chapter III Quality Safeguards

Article 11 The State strengthens the establishment of a standard system for agricultural mechanization, formulates and improves the standards for the quality of the agricultural machines manufactured, the quality of their repairs and maintenance and the quality of their operation.
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