The National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) which met from August 20-25 announced on August 26 that a draft of the Resolution on agricultural land use tax policies will be also approved during the month-long session which starts on October 20.

Of the draft laws to be approved at the meeting, the bills on insurance trading and securities, and the elections of deputies to the NA and People’s Councils will receive approval at the first round of discussions at the National Assembly. The others were discussed at the 7^th plenary session of the NA in May. The NA will also discuss nine other draft bills and measures to manage socio-economic issues and the State budget.

The NASC meeting, which concluded on August 25, was to prepare for the NA’s 8^th plenary session and six draft bills were discussed.

On August 24, the NASC discussed a draft of the metrology bill for the first time.

The new law is expected to help stamp out fraudulent acts such as those committed at petrol stations, which has been an irritating issue for the past few year.

The need for an accurate and effective weights and measures system has spurred the government on to introduce a law to counter malpractices.

In 2008, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched a nationwide inspection and found nearly 10 percent of the 3,890 filling station inspected were cheating their customers.

Fraudulent acts have also been found in many other fields, such as taxi meters, electricity and water charges.

VNS