Many OECD countries -- in accordance with the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) -- are taking measures to expand private sector responsibility for conserving resources and energy and reducing the quantity of pollutants released and waste destined for final disposal. This approach of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is aimed at making the private sector responsible for efforts to reduce environmental impacts from both the use and disposal of their products and to use and benefit from recycling, recovered resources and reclaimed materials in doing so. In 1994, an OECD project on EPR was initiated, focusing particularly on programmes to address what many regard as the “weakest link” in the product responsibility chain: the final disposal of products after their sale to and use by consumers. The overall themes of each phase under the EPR Project are: Phase 1 Review of legal and administrative approaches in OECD Member countries and development of initial policy options for EPR rogrammes (1994-1995); Phase 2 Analysis of economic efficiency and environmental effectiveness of various approaches to EPR (1996-1997); and Phase 3 Examination of EPR approaches and issues through a series of multi-stakeholder workshops, culminating with a joint workshop combining efforts under EPR and Waste Minimisation OECD work programmes. Synergies are expected and the workshop results will serve as a basis for the development of comprehensive policy options in the form of guidance manual for governments (1998-1999). The Phase 1 Report was based on extensive interviews and information gathered across the OECD area and was published in 1996 (OECD Environment Monographs No. 114, OCDE/GD(96)48). Phase 2 consists of four areas: a) in-depth case studies on existing EPR systems, b) possible trade implications, c) economic analysis of EPR options, and d) development of an overall ‘Phase 2 Framework Report’ for implementing EPR programmes with a particular focus on the policy and legal considerations for sharing responsibility. This document on “Extended and Shared Producer Responsibility” is the Executive Summary of all the work undertaken under Phase 2 of the EPR Project. It is meant to serve as a self-standing brief for policy makers and other interested parties. The conclusions reflected in this Executive Summary are subject to further development and refinement as this Project progresses through Phase 3. This document has been produced within the OECD Secretariat by Fabio Vancini.