Kathmandu. The President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, has urged the government to enforce mandatory quality checks on all imported products in Nepal.
Speaking at an event held in Kathmandu on Sunday, he highlighted that, on average, only 1,150 products undergo necessary quality inspections, while more than 5,000 products enter the Nepali market unchecked. Agrawal emphasized that the quality of the majority of these products remains uncertain, which violates consumer rights and adversely impacts the market, including the competitiveness of domestic products.
He stressed the importance of ensuring product quality, especially for items that directly affect consumers and play a significant role in preserving the identity of national industries. Considering that a large portion of trade occurs with India, Agrawal called for the initiation of a Quality Act that would be applicable to both Nepal and India.
Agrawal also pointed out that while labels are required on imported products, they are often added only after the products have passed through customs. He insisted that labeling and quality checks should be conducted at the customs point to ensure consumer safety and protect domestic industries.