The Product Assessment Protocol provides a clear and rigorous process through which future product stewardship work by the Standing Council on Environment and Water will be determined. The Protocol presents a structured approach for use in determining whether a product should be added to the Council's work plan as a candidate for product stewardship. The Council's work plan on product stewardship together with the Australian Government's new Product Stewardship Act 2011 provide the framework for national action on product stewardship in Australia. While these two components are independent of each other, they are complementary.