The Government of Nepal has formally written to India, requesting the facilitation of exports following delays in the renewal of quality certificates for some industrial goods. The delay by India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has impacted exports of cement, galvanized sheets, shoes, plywood, and sanitary pads for several months.

Baburam Adhikari, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, stated that they have raised this issue in various bilateral meetings and informally in the past.

“After the delay continued, we sent a formal letter through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking the first official communication on this matter,” Adhikari said.

The letter, delivered by the Ministry of Commerce to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, will reach the Indian government through diplomatic channels. In the letter, Nepal has requested that the quality certificates be renewed at the earliest.

The renewal delay by BIS has particularly affected the exports of cement, zinc sheets, footwear, plywood, and sanitary pads. While Nepali exporters have reported that India has made it easier to export goods such as footwear and plywood for a few more months, with current quality certificates valid until January 2025, there has been no formal confirmation from the Indian side. The export of cement and zinc sheets, however, continues to face obstacles.

The delays have resulted in a significant drop in cement exports to India. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, Nepal exported just 18,308 tonnes of cement to India, compared to 155,248 tonnes during the same period last year, according to the Department of Customs.

Government officials claim that India delayed the renewal of quality certificates to exert pressure on Nepal into lifting its ban on imports of nine types of foreign dairy products. These banned dairy items include various milk powders, butter, ghee, and other processed dairy goods.

In response to the certification delays and their impact on exports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has initiated discussions about potentially lifting the dairy import ban.

“The Ministry of Agriculture is now actively studying the issue of lifting the ban,” said an official.