The Plant Quarantine Office in Biratnagar has stopped 29 metric tons of garlic imported from China via the sea route, citing the lack of an entry permit. The shipment, worth Rs 3.79 million, was ordered by Goyal Enterprises. Previously, garlic shipments from other firms had cleared customs with quarantine approval.
Nanda Kishore Singh, chief of the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Office in Biratnagar, stated that he halted certification following a verbal directive not to issue inspection certificates due to the high volume of garlic imports this year. Customs officials report that traders have nearly stopped importing Chinese garlic in response to the tightened quarantine measures.
A government study found that a significant portion of imported garlic had been smuggled into India, leading to speculation that the current restrictions may be influenced by Indian pressure. However, government officials have not confirmed this. Baburam Adhikari, former Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, stated that India did not raise this issue during the Commerce Secretary-level Intergovernmental Committee meeting last month. A senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, who also attended the meeting, confirmed that India did not bring up the matter.
According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported garlic worth Rs 6.18 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal year, a sharp rise from Rs 778.7 million during the same period last year. For the entire previous fiscal year, garlic imports from China amounted to Rs 2.22 billion. In the three fiscal years before that, imports averaged just over Rs 1 billion per year.
Lalit Bohora, a customs agent handling Goyal Enterprises’ clearance, criticized the sudden halt of goods already ordered through a Letter of Credit (LC). He argued that stopping the import of new orders is one thing, but blocking shipments already en route or at customs is illegal. He urged quarantine officials to issue the necessary inspection certificates immediately.
Morang Industry and Trade Association President Anupam Rathi also opposed the restriction, arguing that goods ordered through LC should not be stopped arbitrarily. He likened the situation to previous bans on peas, betel nuts, and dates, stating that trade restrictions should be imposed systematically rather than at the last minute. “The responsibility for preventing smuggling lies with the government,” Rathi added, noting that an open border should not be a reason to halt legal imports.
Bhojraj Sapkota, head of the Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center, defended the decision, saying only shipments that failed to complete the necessary quarantine process were stopped. “Traders must apply for quarantine approval before their goods arrive at customs. Those who seek approval afterward are denied entry,” he explained.
Santosh Thapa, head of the Plant Quarantine at Mechi Customs Office, stated that garlic imports were halted following a secretary-level decision at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. The ministry ordered a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) of imported garlic before approving further imports. A verbal directive was issued to allow imports only after assessing the potential risks posed by pests in garlic shipments.
At the Biratnagar Customs Office, one container of garlic is yet to pass customs clearance due to the lack of a quarantine permit.
Garlic imports have also been stalled at other customs points. Information Officer at the Tatopani Customs Office, Surya Prasad Kafle, reported that the border, a major entry point for Chinese garlic, has been closed for 20 days due to a damaged bridge over the Liping River. Around 50 containers, including garlic shipments, are waiting across the border. Garlic imports had already slowed a few days before the border closure, though the specific reason remains unclear.
Information Officer at the Rasuwa Customs Office, Rabindra Prasad Pyakurel, confirmed that garlic imports have been halted for three weeks due to quarantine restrictions. Mechi Customs Chief Rajendra Prasad Chudal noted that garlic shipments stored at the warehouse had started spoiling due to the delay in customs clearance. Importers have since stopped bringing in new shipments, leading to reduced supply at Kalimati, Nepal’s largest vegetable market.
Bimal Shrestha, a customs agent at Mechi Customs, recalled processing over 100 containers of garlic in the past but said imports have now come to a standstill due to quarantine restrictions.
The sudden halt in garlic imports has triggered a supply shortage, with traders and industry representatives questioning the rationale behind the restrictions. Meanwhile, government officials insist that quarantine measures are necessary to assess pest risks, while speculation continues over possible external influences on the decision.
