KATHMANDU: Nepal’s tea exports have nearly stopped after India introduced stricter laboratory testing requirements for imports.

Under the new rule, samples from each shipment must be tested in Kolkata, with results taking around 15 days.

This has caused major delays at the Nepal–India border in Jhapa, where trucks are now stuck awaiting clearance.

Only a very small quantity of tea has been exported since the rule change, while most shipments remain halted.

The delay and added testing costs have made exports difficult for producers.

Tea entrepreneurs are urging the government to resolve the issue through diplomatic talks, saying repeated procedural changes in India are hurting one of Nepal’s key export industries.