Nepal Regulatory Departments 

Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC):  

DFTQC is based in Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) of Government of Nepal (GoN). DFTQC has the following three major objectives: 

• Maintain safety and quality of food and feed products in the country by implementing updated food and feed act and regulations 

• Promote entrepreneurship by developing and disseminating appropriate technologies. 

• Improve nutritional status of the people through food-based approaches. 

The organizational structure of DFTQC: 

• Food and Feed Safety and Quality Regulation Division 

• Food Technology Development and Nutrition Division 

• National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory 

• SPS National Enquiry Point 

• Codex and Infosan Secretariat 

Apart from the above-mentioned offices based in Kathmandu, it has: 

• 8 Food Technology and Quality Control Offices in Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Pokhara and Surkhet. 

• 12 Food Import Export Quality Certification Offices in Kakarbhitta, Rani, Jaleshwar, Birgunj, Tribhuvan International Airport, Belahiya, Krishnanagar, Nepalganj, Dhangadi, Mahendranagar, Rasuwa and Tatopani. 

• 22 Food Technology and Quality Control Division Offices in Jhapa, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Udaypur, Saptari, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Chitwan, Parsa, Sindhuli, Dhulikhel, Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Tanahu, Kapilvastu, Palpa, Baglung, Dang, Jumla, Baitadi, Doti and Dadeldhura. These offices are mainly engaged in food / feed quality control activities such as food inspection, sample collection, and analysis of samples as well as preparation of cases if violations of food/feed laws and food safety and quality are found. 

DFTQC website: Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (dftqc.gov.np) 

Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM):  

NBSM is the national standards body under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS). It is also the national inquiry point / nodal point for the World Trade Organization (on technical barriers to trade and non-tariff measures) and focal point for National Authority on Disarmament Affairs (NADA). The NBSM implements a product certification scheme: Nepal Standard (NS). This is a voluntary scheme that assures quality of goods from Nepalese industries.  

Inspection and Certification Section of NBSM awards licenses to industry to apply the NS Mark on those products which conform to national standards and carry out inspection and certification work for product/process/services with the introduction of the certification scheme. A working manual has been developed to introduce and implement the Nepal Standards Certification Marks Scheme, referring to ISO/IEC 17065:2012-General requirements for Certification Bodies for products, process and services. Inspection and certification for product/process/services are carried out as per the operating procedures and instructions set in the working manual. 

NBSM site: Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology (nbsm.gov.np) 

Nepal Council for Standards (NCS):  

The NCS was formed under the "  Nepal Standards (Certification Mark) Act, 2037 (1980)", as the governing body for Quality, Standards, Testing and Metrology (QSTM) activities in Nepal. NBSM is to act as the secretariat to this council. 

Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Nepal Council for Standards (NCS) 

• Determine standards in relation to any goods, process or services, amend or cancel standards which have been prescribed.  

• Recognize standards prescribed by any local or foreign institutions. 

• Grant recognition to any governmental or non-governmental laboratory for the purpose of determination of standards or tests or suspend or cancel recognition which has once been granted. 

• Prescribe the design and format of the certificates of legal standards, and of the certification mark; and  

• Prescribe fees for certificate of standards and certification mark and for services. 
   

Source: Nepal Standards (Certification Mark) Act, 2037 (1980) – Nepal Law Commission 

Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA):  

The NTA is the telecommunications regulatory body of Nepal. It is an autonomous body established on February 1998 in accordance with Telecommunications Act, 1997 and Telecommunications Regulation, 1998. Its objective is to create a favourable and competitive environment for the development, expansion and operation of telecommunications services with the private sector participation in Nepal.  

It’s aims are: 

• To make the telecommunications service reliable and easily available to the public. 

• To make necessary arrangement to avail basic telecommunications service and facilities in all rural and urban areas throughout Nepal. 

• To protect the rights and interests of consumers by ensuring the provision of quality service. 

• To make arrangement for the coordination and healthy competition among the persons providing Telecommunications Service and facilities. 

Source: Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) 

Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN):  

CAAN was established as an autonomous regulatory body on 31 December 1998 under Civil Aviation Act, 1996. CAAN is the regulator of civil aviation as well as the service provider in the areas of Air Navigation Services and Aerodrome Operations. 

Mission: Ensuring Safe, Secured, Efficient, Standard and Quality Service in Civil Aviation and Airport Operations. 

Vision: Making Air Services an Effective Vehicle of high Economic Growth through Wide Scale Tourism Promotion and Accessibility 

Source: CAAN -  (caanepal.gov.np) 

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB):,  

The NRB is the central bank of Nepal, established in 1956 under the Nepal Rastra Bank Act 1955 is the monetary, regulatory and supervisory authority of banks and financial institutions. 

The objectives of NRB are as follows: 

• To formulate necessary monetary and foreign exchange policies in order to maintain the stability of price and balance of payment for economic stability and sustainable development of economy, and manage it; 

• To increase the access of the financial service and increase the public confidence towards the banking and financial system by maintaining stability of the banking and financial sectors, 

• To develop a secure, healthy and efficient system of payment; 

Source: About - नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक (nrb.org.np) 

Department of Drug Administration (DDA):  

The DDA established under Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) regulates all functions related to drugs like misuse and abuse of drugs and its raw materials, to stop false and misleading advertisement and make-available safe, efficacious and quality drugs to the general public by controlling the production, marketing, distribution, sale, export, import, storage and use of drugs. The overall activities of DDA can be accessed via this Link. 

DDA has three regional offices at Biratnagar, Birgunj and Nepalgunj. These offices carry out the functions of regular inspection, registration and renewal related to pharmacies. They also act as co-ordinating centres to work in accordance to other functions mentioned in the Drugs Act 1978 (second amendment 2000) and directions as given by DDA.   

National Medicines Laboratory (NML):  

National Medicines Laboratory (NML) previously known as Royal Drug Research Laboratory (RDRL) was established in 1964 A.D. It is the principal body of government of Nepal for testing and analysis of drugs. It is a National Drug Control Laboratory. It has various sections like chemical analysis, microbiology, pharmacology & instrumental analysis. 

The main functions of NML are: 

• Test and analyse the quality of drug as empowered according to the Drugs Act, 1978(AD). 

• Check & evaluate the standard of drug testing laboratories in the country. 

• Develop reference standard and make available to the pharmaceutical industries & laboratories. 

• Conduct training on good laboratory practices. 

• Audit laboratories of National Pharmaceutical industries. 

Source: Government Of Nepal|National Medicines Laboratory (nml.gov.np) 

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 

4.3 Nepal Laboratory and Quality Testing Companies Contact List