Bhubaneswar: India has eased mandatory inspection requirements for tea imports from Nepal following requests from Nepali authorities, offering significant relief to tea exporters and cross-border traders.
Under the revised arrangement, trucks carrying Nepali tea meant for India’s domestic market will no longer be routinely stopped at border points for inspection and testing. The Tea Board of India will also reportedly skip testing procedures for tea imported specifically for domestic consumption.
The decision comes after recent stricter checking measures had created concerns among exporters and traders regarding delays in transportation and supply-chain movement.
Trade figures indicate that Nepal exported tea worth around NPR 3.98 billion to India during the last fiscal year, underlining the importance of the Indian market for Nepal’s tea industry.
Observers view the move as part of broader neighbourhood-level economic coordination and trade facilitation efforts between India and Nepal aimed at maintaining smoother bilateral commercial relations and regional cooperation.
