Kathmandu: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has announced that the ‘Nepal Standard (NS)’ mark should become mandatory for all goods imported into Nepal. Speaking at the 115th meeting of the Nepal Council for Standards, Minister Bhandari emphasized the importance of ensuring that imported goods meet national standards, a practice already adopted by many countries, to protect consumer welfare.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Minister highlighted the wide range of products imported into Nepal, from daily consumer goods to industrial equipment, and the negative impact that substandard goods have on public health and the economy. He stressed that enforcing the NS mark on imported goods is imperative to safeguard the interests of consumers and the national economy.
Additionally, the Minister outlined the Ministry’s priorities, including the formulation and implementation of effective market policies and the strengthening of the Nepal Council for Standards’ monitoring system. The meeting also covered topics such as the procedures for granting the NS mark to domestic products, improving NS criteria, enhancing market monitoring, and controlling the import of substandard goods.