Decree-Law No. 32/85 approving the Law regulating the Ministry of Rural Development.

The Ministry of Rural Development is the competent authority for the rural development policy and shall be under the supervision of the Council of Ministers. This Decree Law is divided into 6 chapters dealing with its duties and competencies. Chapter 1 (Purposes) concerns the planning of the rural development policy, the implementation and execution of the rural extension policy, natural resources protection, etc. Chapter 2 (Structure) details the Ministry's composition. The subsequent chapters (3 and 4) regard the competencies and obligations of the advisory Council of the Ministry. The Ministry competencies and duties are also established as well as planning Cabinets (Agricultural Reform Cabinet, Soil Conservation Cabinet, Agricultural and Livestock Administrations, etc.). Chapter 5 deals with competencies and duties of regional services under the supervision of the Ministry of Rural Development.