Nepal formulates new law on food standards
Thursday, 12 July 2007
KATHMANDU, July 11 (Xinhua): The Nepali government is formulating a new law on standards in order to check the entry of substandard food and other consumable manufactured items into the country.
According to a report in The Kathmandu Post today, the Standards Act 2007 is currently under consultation with different stakeholders. It is being formulated to address standard requirements as per World Trade Organization's technical barrier to trade provision.
Shree Krishna Shrestha, director general of Department of Standard and Metrology was quoted by the daily as saying that the act would establish Nepal Standard (NS) mark as the minimum standard, which imported items would need to meet to gain entry into Nepal.
"The importers would first need to test the standard and get the department's certification for bringing goods into the country, " he said.
That does not mean overseas manufacturers would need to acquire NS mark though. "It will be left open for the manufacturers to decide, except in case of sensitive items," said Shrestha.
Sensitive items would include essential consumable commodities, canned food, items consumed by children and older population, and items which can trigger health problems and medical equipments, among others.
The manufacturers or marketers of these items will have to register their products with the department and get standard certification compulsorily, he said.
According to the report, Nepali tea, pashmina and other goods have time and again faced problems simply because importing country do not accept Nepal's present certification and there is no internationally accredited standard certifying agency in the country.
"Establishment of such a body is expected to encourage Nepali manufacturers to upgrade their process of manufacturing and enhance the quality of production, besides ensuring them easy entry into overseas market," he added.
According to a report in The Kathmandu Post today, the Standards Act 2007 is currently under consultation with different stakeholders. It is being formulated to address standard requirements as per World Trade Organization's technical barrier to trade provision.
Shree Krishna Shrestha, director general of Department of Standard and Metrology was quoted by the daily as saying that the act would establish Nepal Standard (NS) mark as the minimum standard, which imported items would need to meet to gain entry into Nepal.
"The importers would first need to test the standard and get the department's certification for bringing goods into the country, " he said.
That does not mean overseas manufacturers would need to acquire NS mark though. "It will be left open for the manufacturers to decide, except in case of sensitive items," said Shrestha.
Sensitive items would include essential consumable commodities, canned food, items consumed by children and older population, and items which can trigger health problems and medical equipments, among others.
The manufacturers or marketers of these items will have to register their products with the department and get standard certification compulsorily, he said.
According to the report, Nepali tea, pashmina and other goods have time and again faced problems simply because importing country do not accept Nepal's present certification and there is no internationally accredited standard certifying agency in the country.
"Establishment of such a body is expected to encourage Nepali manufacturers to upgrade their process of manufacturing and enhance the quality of production, besides ensuring them easy entry into overseas market," he added.