India has officially decided to recognize the test results of certain food products conducted in Nepal. According to sources, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has acknowledged the analysis certificates issued by the National Food and Feed Reference Lab (NFFRL), which operates under Nepal’s Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC). However, if there are doubts about any product, India reserves the right to retest them. With this decision, Nepali exporters are no longer required to send their products to India for testing. Instead, they can now conduct all necessary testing in Nepal before exporting to India.
The NFFRL lab had earlier expanded its testing capacity from 284 to 630 parameters by strengthening its infrastructure. Based on India’s recommendation for infrastructure upgrades, Nepal enhanced its lab, which became the basis for India’s recognition of NFFRL’s testing reports.
Recognized products and their impact
According to sources, nine major food items can now be tested in Nepal and directly exported to India. These include jam, jelly, juice, pickles, sugar-based products, ginger, fresh fruits, vegetables, and instant noodles.
This recognition brings significant relief to Nepali exporters and farmers. Before this, exporters had to travel to Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, or Mumbai for food lab testing, which would take months, cost thousands of rupees, and lead to delays that often-spoiled perishable goods. On top of that, those who used agents to handle the process had to pay unofficial fees, adding more financial burden. This new arrangement removes all such hurdles and procedural hassles.
Recognition comes into effect after long preparations
Although Nepal and India had signed an agreement on mutual recognition of food test results back in 2019, its implementation was delayed due to lack of technical readiness, infrastructure, and the COVID-19 pandemic. After completing the necessary steps, India officially issued a notification recognizing Nepal’s NFFRL lab test reports. Sources confirm that the issue of delayed recognition was a priority during the Nepal–India Intergovernmental Committee meeting at the commerce secretary level held in January 2025. Agreement was reached under agenda item 12, covering testing, certification, and mutual recognition. Following that, in March 2025, a technical delegation from India visited Kathmandu to inspect and evaluate the NFFRL lab.
This development is expected to play a significant role in boosting Nepal’s export trade and reducing the trade deficit with India. It not only offers Nepali entrepreneurs, farmers, and exporters access to international-level testing facilities but is also seen as a step toward strengthening long-term Nepal–India trade relations.
