Government Allows Dabur Nepal and Patanjali Nepal to Import Honey from Abroad

The government has granted permission to Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd and Patanjali Nepal to import honey from abroad. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development made the decision after holding consultations with relevant agencies.

According to the ministry’s secretary Govinda Prasad Sharma, the approval was given under the second-quarter import quota for Fiscal Year 2025/26. Dabur Nepal has been allowed to import 125 metric tons of honey, while Patanjali Nepal has been permitted to import 40 metric tons.

Sharma added that Dabur Nepal will also purchase 10 metric tons of honey from domestic producers. The company had earlier agreed to buy 100 metric tons of honey from Nepali farmers, but it managed to procure only 60 metric tons after farmers sold their produce elsewhere for higher prices, said Subash Chandra Ghimire, president of the Nepal Beekeeping Federation.

Read: Suspension of Honey Import Permits for Eight Months Fails to Boost Domestic Honey Sales

Ghimire noted that domestic producers have been unable to supply the quantity of honey demanded by multinational companies, prompting them to seek import approval.

Last year, the ministry had formed a committee led by Bhoj Raj Sapkota, chief of the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Centre, to study domestic honey production, stock levels, and industry needs. Based on that committee’s recommendation, then-Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari approved import quotas for Dabur Nepal and Patanjali Nepal — the same quotas under which they have now received permission to import, Sharma clarified.

Read: Stakeholders Call for Quality Improvement of Nepali Honey Amid Adulteration Concerns

 

Earlier, beekeepers had demanded a ban on honey imports, citing sufficient domestic stocks. Following this, the government suspended honey imports in April-May 2024. However, in December 2024, Dabur Nepal and other multinational companies formally requested the ministry to lift the ban, arguing that local honey was not suitable as raw material for their products due to inconsistencies in quality and price.

After reviewing the study committee’s recommendation and industry requests, the ministry had approved import quotas last year. The current import permissions fall under those same quotas, Sharma emphasized, dismissing recent reports that the government had newly opened honey imports.

“It is not a new decision,” he said. “The import approval for Dabur Nepal and Patanjali is based on last year’s decision. This year’s honey production season has just begun, and a new committee led by Under-Secretary Maniratna Aryal is now assessing the production situation and future import needs. Any new decision will be made only after receiving that report.”

Read: Dabur Nepal Urges Government to Lift Honey Import Ban

Dabur Nepal said it was compelled to import honey because it is used as a raw material in its production process, and products could spoil or harm the brand’s reputation if the honey does not meet specific quality standards. The company declined to comment further.

Nepal produces about 5,000 metric tons of honey annually, while the domestic demand stands at around 8,000 metric tons. Despite the production shortfall of about 3,000 metric tons, local honey often remains difficult to sell.

The higher production cost of local honey, at Rs 400 per kilogram, compared to imported honey from India at Rs 200 per kilogram, makes it difficult for Nepali honey to compete in the market. Nepali businesses have been importing honey mainly from India and New Zealand.

Beekeeping is practiced in 42 districts across Nepal, with around 13,800 farmers affiliated with the Federation of Nepal Beekeepers (FNB).