Bhairahawa. KATHMANDU: The Department of Customs has restarted the customs process of imported goods that have been stopped for not mentioning the maximum retail price (MRP).

According to the Bhairahawa Customs Office, the import system which was affected at the Bhairahawa border point for the past few days is gradually easing now. The import process, which was halted due to the provision of mandatory mention of MRP at the customs point, has been resumed following the new decision of the Department.

The Department of Customs has made a provision to issue import permission for the time being if the importer makes a self-declaration in writing to affix the label with details including MRP, brand and date of consumption before selling or distributing imported goods in the market. According to the Bhairahawa Customs Office, the process of releasing the stalled goods has started after this decision.

Chief of Bhairahawa Customs Office, Harihar Poudel, said that the import process has resumed after receiving information about the facilitation from the Department. According to him, the importers are releasing the stalled goods by self-declaration with written commitment at the customs office.

Information Officer of Bhairahawa Customs Office said that importers have been demanding that they should be allowed to paste labels of details including MRP in their warehouses.

According to a letter dated April 15 from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the import of goods not mentioned in the MRP was stopped at the customs from April 24 after the Department of Commerce issued a 15-day notice. After this, the import process through the Bhairahawa border point was affected.

Importers had objected to the implementation of the rule in a short time, the lack of label on the goods already ordered abroad immediately and the practical difficulties in affixing MRP on some goods at the customs point. As a result, many cargo vehicles and goods were stopped at the customs and on the way. Madhu Prasad Panthi, Chairperson of Nepal Customs Agents’ Association, Siddharthanagar, said that goods carrying more than 900 goods have been stranded at Bhairahawa checkpoint due to the exorbitant MRP.

Biratnagar, Birgunj, Tatopani and Kerung, which are imported mainly from China and third countries, could be affected due to the regulation of MRP, brand and date of consumption, traders said. Bhairahawa border point is one of the major transit points for the import of industrial raw materials and daily trade with India.