Topic 12 · Export & Compliance

Packaging & Labeling

Meet Nepal's domestic standards and destination-market import label requirements to avoid rejection at customs and boost buyer confidence.

Certifications → SPS Requirements →
NS Standards Mandatory Labels Export Labels By Market Materials

Why Packaging & Labeling Matters

Non-compliant labels are the #1 cause of export rejection at customs. Get it right before shipment.

DFTQC
Domestic label authority
NS
Nepal Standard mark
13%
VAT must appear on retail labels
EN+NP
Bilingual label recommended

Regulatory Bodies

DFTQCDomestic food
Department of Food Technology and Quality Control. Sets label requirements for all food products sold in Nepal.
Nepal Bureau of Standards (NBSM)NS Mark
Issues Nepal Standards (NS) certification for manufactured goods. NS mark on product = passed quality testing.
TEPCExport labels
Trade & Export Promotion Centre provides guidance on destination-market label compliance before shipment.

Common Label Mistakes to Avoid

❌
Missing manufacturing date
Required on all food, pharma, cosmetic products.
❌
No net weight in metric units
Must be in grams/kg/ml/L — ounces not acceptable.
❌
Missing allergen declaration
EU, USA, Japan all require the 14 major allergens listed.
❌
Country of Origin missing
"Made in Nepal" or "Product of Nepal" must appear on export labels.
⚠️
Small font size
Minimum 1.5mm (EU), 1mm (India) for mandatory information.

Domestic Labeling Requirements (Nepal)

Mandatory Label Elements — Food Products

ElementRuleAuthority
Product nameNepali + English recommendedDFTQC
Ingredients listDescending order by weightDFTQC
Net weight / volumeMetric units mandatory (g, kg, ml, L)DFTQC
Manufacturing dateDD/MM/YYYY or Month-YearDFTQC
Expiry / Best BeforeSame format as mfg dateDFTQC
Batch/Lot numberFor traceabilityDFTQC
Manufacturer name & addressFull postal address in NepalDFTQC
Country of origin"Manufactured in Nepal"DFTQC
Storage instructionsTemperature, humidity where applicableDFTQC
DFTQC licence numberMandatory for licensed productsDFTQC
NS markIf NS certified — display prominentlyNBSM
Price / MRPIf retail — include VAT in MRPDoC / IRD

NS Standards for Common Products

Product CategoryNS StandardStatus
Refined edible oilNS 6:2019Mandatory
Packaged drinking waterNS 169:2001Mandatory
Ghee / ButterNS 10:2019Mandatory
HoneyNS 56:2017Mandatory
CementNS 49:2020Mandatory
Tea (processed)NS 114:2018Voluntary + export
Organic productsNS 359:2020Voluntary
HandicraftsVarious NSRecommended
Where to apply for DFTQC label approval: Visit your nearest DFTQC district office with product sample, ingredient list, and packaging design. Approval takes 7–21 days. Annual renewal required. See Government Offices for your province.

Export Label Requirements by Market

Each destination country has its own import label rules. Non-compliant labels lead to rejection at customs.

RequirementEU Rule
LanguageOfficial language of country of sale (minimum). English accepted in many markets.
Net weightMetric only (g, kg, ml, L)
Font sizeMinimum 1.5mm height for mandatory text
Allergens14 allergens must be in bold / highlighted in ingredient list
Nutritional infoPer 100g/100ml — Energy (kJ/kcal), Fat, Carbs, Sugars, Protein, Salt
Country of origin"Product of Nepal" — mandatory for agri products
OrganicEU Organic logo required if claiming organic — plus certification number
EUDR (Wood/Soy/Coffee/Palm etc.)Deforestation-free due diligence statement required from Dec 2024
Key: All food contact materials (packaging) must comply with EU Regulation EC 1935/2004. Recycle symbols must match EU standards.
RequirementIndia Rule (FSSAI / Legal Metrology)
LanguageEnglish and/or Hindi (additional regional languages recommended)
Font sizeMinimum 1mm height; product name ≥ 1.4mm
MRPMaximum Retail Price incl. all taxes must be printed
Importer detailsName, address, and FSSAI licence of India importer required
Veg / Non-vegGreen ● = veg, Red ● = non-veg symbol mandatory on food
Batch / LotMandatory on all packaged food
Best before date"Best before or use by" — no abbreviations
Tip: Pre-stick an Indian importer label (with FSSAI number) on top of the Nepal export label. This is common practice and accepted by Indian customs.
RequirementUSA Rule (FDA / USDA)
LanguageEnglish (primary)
Nutrition FactsFDA Nutrition Facts panel mandatory for food — per serving + per container
Allergens9 major allergens must be declared ("Contains: Milk, Peanuts...")
Net weightDual declaration: metric + US customary (g and oz)
Importer of RecordFDA registration of US importer required
Organic (USDA)USDA Organic seal only if NOP certified — DFTQC organic NOT sufficient
Country of OriginCOOL — "Product of Nepal" mandatory
RequirementChina Rule (GACC / SAMR)
LanguageSimplified Chinese mandatory on inner label
Importer registrationGACC registration of China importer required
GB StandardsFood must meet China GB standards — may require reformulation
QR CodeChina traceability QR code increasingly required
Net weightMetric units only
Shelf lifeMust show both production date and shelf life in days
Key: All food entering China via Rasuwagadhi or Tatopani ICP must have Chinese labels pre-applied or be relabeled at Chinese customs bonded warehouse (at cost).
RequirementMiddle East / Gulf Rule
LanguageArabic mandatory on inner label (English on outer)
HALALHALAL certification mandatory for all meat, poultry, and many processed foods
Pork / AlcoholMust state "Contains Pork" / "Contains Alcohol" if applicable — or "Pork Free"
Importer detailsGCC-registered importer name, address, and contact
Shelf lifeMinimum 6 months remaining shelf life at port of entry
Gulf Standard (GSO)Some products need GSO conformity mark
HALAL note: Must obtain HALAL from a Nepal-accredited HALAL certifier. HALAL certificate number must appear on the label.

Packaging Materials & Sustainable Design

🌿 Sustainable Options

1
Jute / Hemp Bags
Nepal produces high-quality jute. Cost-effective, biodegradable, strong brand story for EU/USA buyers.
2
Recycled Cardboard
Most export boxes use corrugated cardboard. Look for FSC-certified board for EU/UK markets.
3
Lokta Paper (Handmade)
Traditional Nepali paper from Daphne plant. Premium packaging material — adds artisan value.
4
Biodegradable Plastics
PLA-based packaging acceptable in EU. Avoid standard plastic bags for EU/UK exports (plastic levy applies).

📏 Practical Tips

Stackability — Design boxes to stack 6–8 high in a standard container. Round containers waste 30% space.
Moisture protection — Use moisture-absorber sachets in all food containers for sea freight.
Temperature — For cold storage items, mark "Refrigerate at 2–8°C" clearly. Color-coded = better.
Bar codes — Get a GS1 Nepal barcode (gs1np.org). Cost: NPR 2,000–10,000 registration. Required for all supermarkets globally.
QR code on pack — Link to product story, farm origin map, certifications. Boosts premium perception.
GS1 Nepal Barcode Registration:
Contact GS1 Nepal (Nepal Chamber of Commerce). Annual membership: NPR 2,000–15,000 based on turnover. Required to sell in any international supermarket chain.