The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) has announced that Nepal Standards (NS) certification will be mandatory for 12 imported goods from Friday. 

Imported dry cell, LPG regulator and valve, gas cylinder, PVC cable, GI wire, GI sheet, iron rod and cement will not be allowed to be sold without the quality certification. 

The NS mark has been mandatory for such goods manufactured domestically, and now the certification requirement has been extended to foreign products too.

NBSM Director General Bishwo Babu Pudasaini said the move was designed to protect consumers from potential risks from substandard imported goods.

“It will also enable us to keep track of substandard goods being sold in the market,” he said. 

The NBSM issues NS certification to products that meet 15 physical and chemical standards. They will be put through compressive strength tests successively for three, seven and 28 days.

Likewise, the products have to pass soundness and blend tests. The raw materials used and the final product are also examined for quality.

Although most of the goods in the list are manufactured domestically, Indian imports are also found in the market.

As per traders, poor quality goods, mostly LPG regulator and valve and PVC cable, have been flooding the market.

They pose a threat to the physical safety of consumers. According to the NBSM, it acted in response to growing consumer complaints. 

Pudasaini said the provision was also expected to ease the customs clearance process for importers.

“After the goods receive the NS logo, importers will not have to go through a lengthy process to obtain quality assurance at border points,” he said. 

The NBSM has been issuing the NS logo to products that meet the standards related to manufacturing procedures and product quality besides the necessary compliances for physical security.

More than 300 goods have received the NS mark till date. According to the NBSM, 17 new products were issued the NS mark in the first nine months of the fiscal year. 

The NBSM has received accreditation to issue ISO 9001:2008, a quality system certification from the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), India. In addition, it has also received accreditation from the Indian board for testing 13 products.