"The two catalogues will become an important measure for the country to strengthen and improve its macro-controls," he said.

The catalogues replace two similar ones that were issued in 1999.

A series of measures have been taken this year to cool down overheated investments in fixed-assets and the rampant expropriation of arable land by local governments.

In May, the central government issued a ban on the use of new land for luxury villas. This was coupled by repeated orders from the ministry to supply more land for smaller, affordable housing, to cool the overheated property market.

Earlier last month, a regulation issued by the ministry, which will be effective next year, doubles the land-use fee of arable land for new construction, a move many believe will tighten the protection of arable land.

A number of illegal land acquisition cases have been brought to the attention of the State Council this year.

In September, the State Council issued a serious administrative warning to two deputy-ministry level officials in Central China's Henan Province for illegally expropriating nearly 1,000 hectares of land for the construction of a college park.

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