On March 25, 2025, the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hosted a workshop in cooperation with the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper aimed at training stakeholders on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. This initiative highlights the growing emphasis on sustainability within Vietnam's regulatory framework.
Mr. Ho Kien Trung, the Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, addressed the attendees, stating that the legal framework now thoroughly outlines the responsibilities manufacturers and importers have to implement EPR. This responsibility requires companies to either organize recycling processes or contribute financially to support such initiatives, thereby reducing waste through improved disposal practices.
The content of EPR is embedded within Vietnam's 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, further elaborated in Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP issued on January 10, 2022, and Circular No. 02/2022/TT-BTNMT released on the same day. The most recent legal modifications, namely Decree No. 05/2025/ND-CP dated January 6, 2025, and Circular No. 07/2025/TT-BTNMT dated February 28, 2025, have refined the legal landscape by clearly identifying the responsible parties and allowing flexibility in recycling various types of packaging.
Furthermore, these amendments provide explicit recycling solutions, enhancing the clarity and transparency of EPR implementation. An important development under Circular No. 07/2025/TT-BTNMT is the issuance of recycling cost standards, ensuring that financial commitments align with practical recycling capabilities.
Under the new regulations, manufacturers and importers of tires, oil, batteries, and certain packaging types must start their recycling efforts by January 1, 2024. Meanwhile, those involved with electronic products must comply by January 1, 2025, and those with vehicles will follow suit by January 1, 2027. Importantly, from January 1, 2022, companies dealing with single-use batteries, diapers, chewing gum, cigarettes, certain plastics, and pesticide packaging have already been required to manage waste collection and treatment.
A crucial deadline is looming for companies as they need to register their recycling plans and declare their financial contributions to the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund by March 31 each year. This requirement aims to foster accountability and ensure active participation in environmental preservation.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Editor-in-chief of the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper, emphasized the significance of EPR as a crucial policy. He noted that it has been successfully implemented in several countries worldwide, yielding effective results in waste management and promoting a circular economy. The framework established in Vietnam seeks to empower companies to fulfill their recycling and waste management responsibilities.
Despite these considerable advancements, the implementation of EPR has posed challenges for many businesses. Mr. Do Xuan Thuan from the EPR Office expressed that while the new legal framework aims to make compliance easier, technical and content-related issues still arise during the registration phase. To alleviate these concerns, the EPR Office stands ready to assist companies in navigating the transition, and the official information portal has been operational since January 29, 2024.
The website provides a convenient platform for businesses to declare their plans and contributions; however, updates are crucial as the system transitioned to a new domain under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The new portal, epr.mae.gov.vn, continues to store old account information, making it easier for businesses to transition with minimal disruption.
Notably, manufacturers and importers already registered for recycling certain products from 2024, like tires or packaging, will maintain the volume they have recycled into their performance metrics for 2025. This allows companies to progressively scale their recycling efforts without penalty.
Currently, Circular No. 07 does not clearly communicate the bank account number required for entering financial contributions toward recycling and waste management. Therefore, the EPR Office and the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund are coordinating ways to publicize the appropriate account number swiftly to facilitate company compliance.
As Vietnam evolves its environmental policies, the EPR framework represents a significant step forward in establishing a more sustainable future. The collaboration between regulatory bodies and the business community will be crucial in ensuring that these new responsibilities are understood and fulfilled effectively, paving the way for a cleaner environment.
