Kathmandu, January 6

The  Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) has issued Nepal Standard (NS) certification to 19 different products of 16 firms in the ongoing fiscal year.

The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology today said that the NS certification has been issued to 19 products so far this year. Along with this, 369 domestic goods produced by 250 firms across the country have so far acquired NS certification from NBSM, informed Bishwobabu Pudasaini, director general of the bureau.

“Though a number of firms had submitted applications to acquire the NS certification for their products, we have so far issued the certification to 19 products as only they have met our quality standards,” informed Pudasaini.

Those firms that have acquired NS certification in the ongoing fiscal year for their products ranging from food items to utensils and liquefied petroleum gas include Annapurna Vegetable Ltd of Bara; Barsha Recycling Ltd of Banke; GTH Industry of Bhaktapur; Hari Industry of India; Hongsi Cement Industry of Nawalparasi; International Cement of Parsa; Inter tec Pipe and Fitting of Rupandehi; Janaki Mata Industry of Sarlahi; Jaya Bageswori Rotamodeling of Rupandehi; Plywood Ltd of Morang; Narayani Industry of Makawanpur; Sunshine Cement of Jhapa; JSS Industry of Kathmandu; and Kohinoor Plywood of Morang, among others.

Though a majority of countries have been issuing quality certification to Nepali goods since many years, Nepal formally started issuing NS quality certification to foreign goods from 2016.

“The number of foreign brands seeking NS certification has increased in recent months. We have been issuing quality certification to all foreign goods meeting certain set criteria,” informed Pudasaini, director general at NBSM.

The NBSM has been making it mandatory for different imported products to acquire NS certification in a bid to protect consumers. As per Pudasaini, NBSM will revoke NS certification from those products that fail to maintain the quality standards as required.