Assistance with Monitoring and Compliance Assessment for the Vietnamese Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging Waste: Practical Guidance for Both Authorities and Producers

Abstract

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme is a key policy approach for advancing circular economy objectives in packaging waste management, yet its effectiveness depends on robust reporting, monitoring, and compliance assessment. In Vietnam, gaps between regulatory requirements and practical implementation pose challenges for both producers and enforcement authorities. This study translates legal obligations into practical guidance to support compliance and regulatory oversight. The findings provide complementary guidelines for businesses, focusing on producer report completion, inspection readiness, and compliance risk management, and for authorities, addressing due diligence in reviewing recycling performance reports, anticipated errors in inspection reporting, and challenges in applying evaluation and scoring tools. The proposed guidance contributes to more effective EPR implementation by obligated companies and governmental staff and provides a transferable approach to improving circular economy governance.