AusCham Representatives attended Expanded Producer Responsibility: From Policy to Enforcement

On Thursday, 4 April 2024, at the Vietnam Expo 2024, industry leaders and officials convened for the "Extended Producer Responsibility: From Policy to Implementation" seminar with attendance from AusCham's representative, Ms. Cynthia Mann - Member of the Board Director.

Organized by the Vietnam News Agency, the event highlighted Vietnam's push towards a circular economy, with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announcing amendments to ease business compliance under the evolving Environmental Protection Law. 

The Expanded Producer Responsibility (EPR), as stipulated in Article 54 of the Environmental Protection Law and detailed in Government Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP dated January 10, 2022, mandates that as of January 1, 2024, producers and importers of electronic products, lubricants, and packaging must either engage in recycling activities or pay fees to support waste recycling efforts.

According to experts, EPR not only represents a responsibility but also an opportunity for businesses to achieve sustainable development. Implementing EPR will enable businesses to meet their stakeholders’ increasingly stringent requirements, thereby enhancing their involvement in global value chains. Additionally, this policy is expected to contribute to preserving resources for future generations and reducing plastic wastes.

“This is a key task to achieve sustainable development for manufacturers and businesses, especially as Việt Nam has been struggling with severe impacts caused by pollution and climate change,” said Đoàn Thị Tuyết Nhung, deputy general director of the Vietnam News Agency.

“Implementing EPR will contribute to preserving resources for the future, reducing environmentally damaging waste, demonstrating businesses’ sense of social responsibility, and contributing to realising Việt Nam’s commitment at the COP26 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050," she stressed.

During the seminar, policymakers, experts, domestic and foreign businesses as well as other stakeholders will discuss the opportunities and challenges in implementing EPR in the Southeast Asian country.