The private sector has expressed concerns over the government’s mandatory provision requiring the maximum retail price (MRP) to be mentioned on all imported and domestically produced goods.

The government issued a notice on April 9, 2026, making it mandatory to mention MRP on all goods imported through customs points as well as those produced domestically.

As a result, customs clearance of imported goods has been affected since Tuesday at Birgunj Customs Office and other entry points across the country. Traders say this could disrupt supply chains and impact revenue collection.

The Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the decision to enforce the provision unilaterally, without adequate consultation with stakeholders, is not private sector-friendly. The chamber issued a statement on Tuesday expressing its objection, accusing the government of making a hasty decision.

In a statement signed by its president Hari Prasad Gautam, the chamber noted that in neighbouring India, MRP is applied only to limited goods such as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and small machinery. It said making it mandatory for all types of goods in Nepal is impractical. It added that in a context where international prices fluctuate continuously and foreign exchange rates vary, there is no clear standard for determining the price of imported goods.

The statement said setting profit margins is challenging for small retailers. It said that given Nepal’s small economy and low import volumes, foreign suppliers may be unwilling to send goods with MRP labels. According to the statement, frequent changes in Harmonised System (HS) codes at customs make MRP determination difficult, and that the government policy of assessing customs value at 40 to 50 percent of MRP is impractical. This, it said, could increase disputes between importers and customs authorities.

Warning that the policy could increase the risk of goods entering through informal channels, the statement said the MRP provision requires thorough study, consultation with the private sector and market research before implementation. It also demanded the formation of a committee with private sector participation and implementation of the provision based on its recommendations. The chamber urged the government to reconsider the decision immediately, warning that failure to address the issue could affect the country’s supply system.

Amit Tiwari, an officer at Birgunj customs, said attempts to strictly enforce mandatory MRP labelling on imported goods have disrupted customs operations. “The rule was to be implemented from Tuesday. It does not apply to industrial raw materials and bulk items,” he said. “However, when goods that are required to carry or display MRP did not have it, we did not clear them.”

He said the disruption in clearance has also affected revenue collection. “On Tuesday, revenue collection was 80 to 90 percent lower than on a normal day,” he said. Birgunj customs typically collect around Rs 600 million to Rs 650 million in revenue on a normal day.