April 6: Goods produced in Nepal can be exported to India without Certificate of Origin during the lockdown period.

The governments of the two countries have made such arrangement after consulting with each other. The countries have not been able to issue certificate of origin to goods produced within their respective territories due to the lockdown. However, both the countries will have to submit the Certificate of Origin to each other for the goods produced once the lockdown is over.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has confirmed that the Certificate of Origin is not mandatory for import and export of goods from India for the time being. 

The Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) has been certifying the goods produced in Nepal before being exported to India.  

However, the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) have been issuing Certificate of Origin to goods exported to third countries. 

Nawaraj Dhakal, undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies informed New Business Age that both Nepal and India have made an arrangement for export of goods without Certificate of Origin after analyzing the impact of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.   

“We have not made the certificate mandatory for goods imported from India while Nepali entrepreneurs can also export their goods to India without the certificate,” he informed.

However, the entrepreneurs will need submit the Certificate of Origin of their products once the lockdown is over, he added.  Dhakal added that the certificate along with other documents are mandatory for goods imported from third countries.