KATHMANDU, APRIL 24

The Indian customs have cleared the barrier to Nepali tea after five days. Seventeen trucks laden with tea, which were stalled inside the Indian border, passed through the Kakadbhitta checkpoint on Tuesday.

Ram Prasad Regmi, Chief of Mechi Customs Office, informed that all 17 trucks ferrying tea were cleared through the Indian customs point of Panitanki, West Bengal, on Tuesday evening. 'There is no obstruction for Nepali tea from the Indian customs office anymore,' he added. The Indian officials had initially barred the entry following directives from the central level but later lifted the restriction accordingly.

The Indian side had cited a new provision requiring quality testing, while the Nepali side argued that conducting a quality test for each load was impractical and requested clearance as per the previous provision.

Finally, India agreed to respond to Nepal's request, thereby facilitating tea trade.

Under the previous provision, a test pass report for tea quality remained effective for 15 days.

CTC and orthodox tea produced in Nepal are exported to India, which accounts for 90 percent of this product's market.