Nepal Food Nutrition Labeling: Everything You Need to Know in 2025–2026

If you manufacture, import, or sell packaged food in Nepal — or if you’re a Nepali consumer trying to understand what’s on your food label — 2025 and 2026 mark a turning point you cannot afford to ignore.

Nepal has enacted the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 (2024), the most sweeping overhaul of the country’s food laws in over 57 years. Combined with a new trans-fat ban, stricter DFTQC enforcement, and international pressure from the WHO and Codex Alimentarius, Nepal’s food nutrition labeling landscape is changing fast.

This expert guide by MyFoodExpert breaks down exactly what’s new, what’s required on every food label, and what consumers and businesses must do right now.

Why Nepal's Food Nutrition Rules Are Changing

For decades, Nepal’s food labeling system operated under the Food Act of 1967 — a law written for a completely different era. Packaged food was rare. Supermarkets barely existed. Nutrition-related diseases were not a national priority.

That world no longer exists.

Today, packaged food lines the shelves of corner stores in Kathmandu and small shops across Nepal’s hill districts. Studies from 2025 confirm that roughly 76% of packaged food products sold in Nepali retail stores now carry readable nutrition information on their labels — but that still leaves nearly 1 in 4 products with no meaningful nutritional data at all.

Research published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia (2025) assessed over 2,000 packaged food products in Nepali retail stores and found high levels of total sugars, saturated fats, sodium, and non-sugar sweeteners in products commonly consumed by infants and young children. The study was the first of its kind in Nepal and immediately became a call to action for policymakers.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s children are facing a double nutritional crisis: one in four children still suffers from undernutrition or stunting, while childhood overweight and obesity is rising at over 3% per year according to a 2024 UNICEF report. Packaged foods high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats are driving the obesity side of this crisis.

The global response — from WHO, FAO, and Codex Alimentarius — is clear: mandatory, standardized nutrition labeling is one of the most effective tools available to protect public health. Nepal is now acting on that guidance.

The New Law: Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 (2024) — Nepal's Food Revolution

Nepal’s primary food law is now the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 — officially Act No. 1 of 2024. It came into force on August 3, 2024 (Shrawan 19, 2081 BS), replacing the 57-year-old Food Act of 1966/1967.

This is not a minor amendment. It is a complete structural overhaul of how Nepal regulates food safety, labeling, and quality.

KEY CHANGES UNDER THE 2024 ACT:

→ Modern Definition of Food The Act now covers unprocessed, semi-processed, and processed foods and beverages; nutritional ingredients; food additives; condiments; dietary supplements; packaged drinking water; alcoholic beverages; and even chewing gum and bubblegum. Everything consumable is now regulated.

→ Mandatory Labeling for All Packaged Foods The Act establishes clear mandatory labeling obligations for packaged food sold in Nepal. Nutrition information is required for specified food categories and for any product making a nutrition or health claim.

→ Warning Labels Packaged foods that may pose health risks — such as those high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, or trans fat — must carry appropriate warning statements or symbols.

→ Stronger Enforcement with Real Teeth District Administration Offices can now issue on-the-spot penalties without court proceedings. The Act authorizes fines, product seizures, immediate market recalls, and imprisonment of up to five years for producing or selling food products that pose a serious threat to human health. This is not a paperwork penalty — it is criminal liability.

→ Digital Licensing via NeFFILS The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) now operates Nepal Food & Feed Industry Licensing System (NeFFILS), a digital platform for food business license applications and renewals.

→ Alignment with International Standards Nepal is the National Codex Contact Point and WTO-SPS Enquiry Point for international food trade. The new Act formally aligns Nepal’s framework with FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius guidelines.

EXPERT TIP FROM MYFOODEXPERT If your food product was compliant under the old Food Act 1967, that does not mean it is compliant today. The 2024 Act introduces new obligations for labeling, warning statements, and nutrition information that apply retroactively to all products currently on the market in Nepal. Review your labels now.

What Must Every Packaged Food Label Show in Nepal?

Under Nepal’s Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 and the Food Packaging and Labeling Regulations, every packaged food sold in Nepal — whether produced locally or imported — must display the following information:

MANDATORY LABEL REQUIREMENTS — NEPAL 2025–2026

Label Element	What It Must Include
Product Name	The actual name or description of the food product.
Manufacturer Details	Full name and address of the producer, processor, packer, importer, or distributor.
Ingredient List	All ingredients listed in descending order by weight. Food additives must also be declared.
Net Quantity	Weight, volume, or unit count of the product contents.
MRP / Selling Price	Maximum Retail Price (MRP) or the applicable selling price.
Batch / Lot Number	Unique batch or lot identification number for traceability and recall purposes.
Date of Manufacture	The date on which the product was manufactured or packed.
Expiry / Best Before	Shelf-life information displayed in a clear and understandable format.
Warning Statements	Mandatory warnings, symbols, or statements for foods that may pose health risks.
Allergen Declaration	Declaration of allergens present in the product, where applicable.
Nutrition Information	Nutritional facts required for specified food categories and products making nutrition claims.
Country of Origin	Country where the product was manufactured or produced. Mandatory for imported foods.
Importer Details	For imported products, the name and address of the importer in Nepal.
Storage Instructions	Instructions regarding storage conditions necessary to maintain product safety and quality.
Veg / Non-Veg Symbol	Appropriate vegetarian or non-vegetarian symbol as required under Nepal food packaging and labeling regulations.

LANGUAGE RULES:

Labels must be in Nepali or English. For food produced within Nepal, Nepali is given priority. Imported products may use English but must comply with all Nepali labeling requirements. Products labeled in other languages must be relabeled in Nepali or English by the importing agency.

Fresh vegetables and fruits sold without packaging are exempt from labeling requirements.

Nutrition Facts Panel in Nepal: What Information Is Required?

Nepal is still in transition toward comprehensive mandatory nutrition declarations on all packaged foods. However, regulatory practice under the 2024 Act and DFTQC guidelines now clearly expects the following information on nutrition labels for regulated food categories and any product making a nutrition or health claim:

REQUIRED NUTRIENTS ON A NEPALI NUTRITION LABEL:

Energy (Calories / kcal)
Protein (grams)
Total Fat (grams) — including saturated fat
Total Carbohydrates (grams)
Total Sugars (grams)
Sodium / Salt (milligrams or grams)
Additional nutrients when specific nutrition claims are made: dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, etc.

HOW TO PRESENT NUTRITION INFORMATION:

Nutrition information should be declared per serving and/or per 100 grams or 100 ml, as applicable — in line with international Codex Alimentarius standards that Nepal is actively adopting.

Nepal’s DFTQC also conducts Nutritional Analysis testing to verify that a product’s declared nutritional content matches what is on the label. Products that misrepresent their nutritional content face enforcement action.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR YOUR PRODUCT:

Nepal is actively aligning with WHO Southeast Asia Region Nutrient Profile Model (SEAR NPM) thresholds for sugar, fat, sodium, and non-sugar sweeteners. Research published in 2025 used these thresholds to benchmark packaged foods in Nepal — and a significant portion of products failed to meet them. Regulators are watching this data. Products that exceed these thresholds may face future mandatory front-of-pack warning labels.

WHAT IS THE WHO SEAR NUTRIENT PROFILE MODEL?

The WHO Southeast Asia Region Nutrient Profile Model (SEAR NPM) sets maximum thresholds for total sugar, added sugar, total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and non-sugar sweeteners in packaged foods — especially those marketed to or consumed by children. Nepal’s 2025 research study applied this model to over 2,000 Nepali packaged food products for the first time. The results are directly informing new policy. Manufacturers who exceed these thresholds risk future mandatory warning labels and marketing restrictions.

Nepal's Trans-Fat Ban: The 2024 Rule That Changed Everything

One of the most significant and immediately enforceable nutrition rules in Nepal right now is the Industrial Trans-Fat Rule, which came into effect in early 2024 under DFTQC authority.

THE RULE: All edible oils and processed foods sold in Nepal must not contain more than 0.2 grams of industrial trans-fatty acids per 100 grams of fat.

This is one of the strictest trans-fat limits in South Asia and is directly aligned with WHO’s global target to eliminate industrial trans-fats from the global food supply.

THE RULE IS BEING ACTIVELY ENFORCED:

In December 2025, DFTQC’s market monitoring team found croissants produced by Nanglo Bakery — one of Nepal’s well-known bakery chains — to contain trans-fat levels exceeding the legal limit. The batch was immediately ordered off the market. Similar action was taken against puff products from other manufacturers for the same violation.

This demonstrates that Nepal’s trans-fat enforcement is not merely theoretical. DFTQC is conducting active market surveillance, lab-testing products, and ordering immediate product recalls under Section 33(1) of the Food Hygiene and Quality Act 2081.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR LABEL:

If your food product contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or other sources of industrial trans-fats, you must test your product, reformulate if necessary, and ensure your nutrition label accurately declares trans-fat content. DFTQC can test samples collected from the market without prior notice.

Packaged Foods for Infants and Young Children: Nepal's Strictest Nutrition Standards

Nepal has some of its most detailed and strictly enforced nutrition requirements specifically for foods targeting infants and young children (IYC) — including commercially produced complementary foods, infant formula, and baby snacks.

WHY THIS CATEGORY IS SO TIGHTLY REGULATED:

A landmark 2025 study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia examined over 2,000 packaged food products available in Nepali retail stores frequented by caregivers of children aged 6 months to 3 years. The findings were alarming:

A significant proportion of products exceeded WHO SEAR NPM thresholds for total sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.
Non-sugar sweeteners were present in products clearly positioned for young children.
Many products lacked sufficient readable nutrition information on their labels.

The study concluded that Nepal urgently needs regulations requiring manufacturers to provide complete nutrition information on all packaged foods — with particular focus on products consumed by infants and young children.

WHAT IS ALREADY MANDATORY FOR INFANT AND CHILD FOODS:

Specified nutrient standards must be met (energy, protein, fat, micronutrients).
Labels must contain detailed nutritional and health information.
Claims about the product’s suitability for young children must be substantiated and approved.
Compliance with DFTQC standards for commercially produced complementary foods is non-negotiable.

Any food marketed or positioned for infants and young children in Nepal is subject to the highest level of scrutiny under both the 2024 Act and DFTQC’s sectoral guidelines.

Exporting or Importing Food to Nepal: The Complete Label Checklist

If you are exporting packaged food from India, China, or any other country into Nepal, your product must meet Nepal’s labelling requirements before it can legally enter the market. Customs clearance can be conditional on DFTQC clearance and test reports.

Nepal is one of India’s most significant food export destinations. With the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 now in effect, compliance standards have risen sharply.

COMPLETE LABEL CHECKLIST FOR IMPORTED FOOD IN NEPAL:

☑ Product Name (in Nepali or English)

☑ Full Ingredient List (all ingredients listed in descending order by weight)

☑ Net Quantity (weight, volume, or unit count)

☑ Nutrition Facts Panel, including:

Energy
Protein
Fat
Carbohydrates
Sugar
Sodium

☑ Allergen Declaration (where applicable)

☑ Name and Address of the Original Manufacturer

☑ Name and Address of the Nepal Importer / Distributor

☑ Batch Number or Lot Number

☑ Date of Manufacture

☑ Best Before Date / Expiry Date

☑ Storage Instructions (if applicable)

☑ Country of Origin

☑ Trans-Fat Compliance (must comply with Nepal’s limit of 0.2g trans-fat per 100g of total fat)

☑ Nutrition and Health Claims Verification (any nutrition or health claim must be scientifically substantiated and legally permitted)

Pre-Import Verification Checklist

☐ Product label reviewed for Nepal compliance

☐ Nutrition facts verified and accurately declared

☐ All mandatory importer details added

☐ Manufacturing and expiry dates clearly printed

☐ Country of origin correctly stated

☐ Allergen information prominently displayed

☐ Trans-fat content verified against Nepal regulations

☐ Health and nutrition claims supported by evidence

☐ Label available in a clear and legible format

☐ Product ready for Nepal import approval and market distribution

IMPORTANT: Products labeled in Hindi or another language that is neither Nepali nor English must be relabeled by the importing agency in Nepal before they can be sold. This is a common compliance gap for Indian food exports to Nepal.

DFTQC also maintains the authority to collect product samples from the market or at customs and conduct laboratory testing. Failing a DFTQC test can result in the entire shipment being detained or destroyed.

DFTQC: Understanding Nepal's Food Safety Authority

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) is Nepal’s primary regulatory authority for food safety, quality control, licensing, and enforcement. It operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and is headquartered in Babarmahal, Kathmandu, with provincial field offices and laboratories across the country.

WHAT DFTQC DOES:

Licensing — Every food business in Nepal, from large manufacturers to small food stalls, must obtain a DFTQC license. No commercial food activity is exempt. Digital licensing is now available through the Nepal Food & Feed Industry Licensing System (NeFFILS).

Laboratory Testing — DFTQC operates a nationwide laboratory network with a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Tests include microbiological analysis, chemical analysis, nutritional content verification, allergen testing, trans-fat measurement, and shelf-life studies.

Market Surveillance — DFTQC teams conduct routine and unannounced inspections of businesses, supermarkets, corner stores, and distribution points. Mobile food lab vans are deployed for on-site testing, especially during festival seasons and in high-traffic areas like the Kathmandu Valley.

Enforcement — DFTQC can issue on-the-spot penalties, order immediate product recalls, seize non-compliant products, and initiate criminal proceedings. The 2024 Act grants the Director General authority to recall any contaminated or substandard product from the market immediately.

International Trade — DFTQC is Nepal’s National Codex Contact Point and WTO-SPS Enquiry Point, coordinating Nepal’s position on international food safety standards.

PRACTICAL TIP FOR BUSINESSES:

If you receive a DFTQC inspection notice or your product is sampled from the market, do not ignore it. Response timelines are tight, and non-response can escalate to criminal liability under the 2024 Act. Engage a food compliance expert immediately.

Nepal's Double Burden of Malnutrition — Why Nutrition Labeling Has Never Mattered More

Nepal faces a nutritional paradox that makes clear, accurate food labeling a genuine public health emergency.

On one side: approximately 22% of children under five in Nepal suffer from stunting (low height for age), a figure that has thankfully fallen sharply from 57% in 2001, according to Nepal’s Demographic Health Survey data. Anemia affects 43% of children aged 6–59 months and 34% of women aged 15–49.

On the other side: childhood overweight and obesity is rising at over 3% per year. Ultra-processed packaged foods high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, and industrial trans-fats are increasingly displacing traditional, nutrient-rich Nepali foods in children’s diets. Research shows that 91% of young Nepali children aged 12–23 months consumed an unhealthy snack food or beverage in the previous 24 hours, with biscuits, candy, chocolate, and savory snacks being the biggest contributors.

This dual burden simultaneously fighting undernutrition and the rising tide of diet-related diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is exactly why Nepal’s policymakers are urgently strengthening nutrition labeling rules.

When consumers can clearly read nutrition labels, they can make better choices. When businesses must declare sugar, fat, sodium, and trans-fat on their labels and face enforcement consequences for getting it wrong product formulations improve.

Nutrition labeling is not just a compliance obligation in Nepal. It is a public health tool with life-changing consequences for millions of Nepali families.

What's Coming Next: Nepal Food Nutrition Rules to Watch in 2026 and Beyond

Nepal’s food regulatory environment is actively evolving. Here are the key developments that businesses and consumers should monitor closely:

BROADER MANDATORY NUTRITION LABELING Nepal is moving toward requiring full nutrition declarations on all packaged foods — not just those making health claims. The 2025 research study documenting nutritional gaps in packaged food labels is directly informing DFTQC’s regulatory agenda. Expect new gazette notifications expanding mandatory nutrition panels in the near future.
FRONT-OF-PACK WARNING LABELS Globally, countries in South and Southeast Asia are adopting front-of-pack warning labels for foods high in sugar, sodium, saturated fat, and trans-fat. Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka are all at various stages of implementing such systems. Nepal’s 2024 Act already authorizes warning labels for foods posing health risks. The application of this to processed food products broadly — similar to India’s proposed FSSAI front-of-pack labeling rules — is a likely next step.
RESTRICTIONS ON MARKETING UNHEALTHY FOODS TO CHILDREN Nepal’s 2025–2026 policy discussions include proposals to restrict the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt, and fat to children — in line with WHO global recommendations. This could affect packaging design, promotional claims, cartoon characters on packaging, and advertising.
STRICTER STANDARDS FOR DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS DFTQC maintains a register of approved dietary supplements and issues periodic guidelines for this fast-growing category. More structured nutrition labeling and claim verification requirements for supplements are expected.
DIGITAL AND QR-CODE LABELING As Nepal’s digital infrastructure grows, there is increasing discussion around enabling QR codes on food labels to link consumers to extended nutrition information, allergen details, and product traceability data.

MyFoodExpert will update this guide as new regulations are published. Bookmark this page and subscribe to our newsletter for Nepal-specific food compliance alerts.

How MyFoodExpert Can Help With Nepal Food Nutrition Compliance

Navigating Nepal’s evolving food nutrition labeling landscape requires expert knowledge — and the cost of getting it wrong is higher than ever under the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081.

MyFoodExpert provides end-to-end food labeling and nutrition compliance services for:

✔ Domestic Nepal food manufacturers
✔ Importers bringing packaged food into Nepal
✔ Indian and international exporters targeting the Nepal market
✔ Startups and food businesses seeking DFTQC licensing
✔ Companies reviewing existing labels for 2024 Act compliance

OUR NEPAL FOOD LABEL SERVICES:

→ Label Review and Compliance Audit We check your existing label against the full Nepal regulatory framework: the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081; DFTQC guidelines; Food Packaging and Labeling Regulations; Codex Alimentarius standards; and the trans-fat rule. You get a clear compliance report with specific corrective actions.

→ Nutrition Facts Panel Preparation We calculate and format your Nepal-compliant Nutrition Facts panel — per serving and per 100g/100ml — based on your product formulation or laboratory test results.

→ Allergen Declaration Support We review your ingredient and manufacturing processes to ensure accurate, complete allergen declarations on your Nepal label.

→ DFTQC Registration and Licensing Guidance We guide food businesses through the DFTQC licensing process via NeFFILS, including document preparation, facility compliance, and laboratory test coordination.

→ Import Compliance for Nepal We prepare a complete Nepal import label compliance checklist specific to your product category, country of origin, and supply chain.

→ Ongoing Regulatory Monitoring We track Nepal gazette notifications, DFTQC circulars, and international Codex updates that affect food labeling in Nepal — and alert you when action is required.

Frequently Asked Questions: Nepal Food Nutrition Labeling

Q: What is the current food labeling law in Nepal? A: Nepal’s current food labeling law is the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 (Act No. 1 of 2024), which came into effect on August 3, 2024. It replaced the 57-year-old Food Act of 1967. The law is enforced by the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) and covers all packaged foods sold in Nepal, whether produced locally or imported.

Q: Is nutrition information mandatory on food labels in Nepal? A: Yes, nutrition information is mandatory for specified food categories and for any packaged food making a nutrition or health claim. Nepal is actively expanding mandatory nutrition labeling to cover all packaged foods, in line with FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius guidelines. Required nutrients include energy (kcal), protein, total fat, carbohydrates, total sugars, and sodium/salt.

Q: What is DFTQC and what does it regulate in Nepal? A: DFTQC stands for the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control. It is Nepal’s primary food safety authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. DFTQC licenses all food businesses in Nepal, conducts market inspections, runs food safety laboratories, enforces labeling laws, and coordinates Nepal’s participation in international food safety bodies including Codex Alimentarius and the WTO-SPS committee.

Q: What languages must Nepal food labels be written in? A: Food labels in Nepal must be in Nepali or English. For foods produced and processed within Nepal, Nepali is given priority. Imported food products may carry English labels but must comply with all Nepal labeling requirements. Products labeled in other languages (such as Hindi) must be relabeled in Nepali or English by the Nepal importing agency before sale.

Q: Is there a trans-fat rule in Nepal? A: Yes. Nepal introduced a legal cap on industrial trans-fatty acids in 2024. All edible oils and processed foods sold in Nepal must not contain more than 0.2 grams of industrial trans-fat per 100 grams of fat. This rule is being actively enforced — DFTQC ordered product recalls from well-known Nepali bakeries in December 2025 after laboratory tests found trans-fat levels exceeding this limit.

Q: What information must be on a food label in Nepal? A: Every packaged food label in Nepal must include: product name, manufacturer/importer details, ingredient list (in descending order by weight), net quantity, MRP/selling price, batch or lot number, date of manufacture, best before or expiry date, warning statements (where applicable), allergen declaration, and nutrition information (for regulated categories). Imported foods must also show country of origin, and all allergens must be declared.

Q: I am exporting food from India to Nepal. What labeling do I need? A: Your label must include the product name, ingredient list, net quantity, nutrition facts panel, allergen declaration, manufacturer details, Nepal importer details, batch/lot number, manufacturing date, best before/expiry date, storage instructions, and country of origin. Labels must be in Nepali or English. Your product must also comply with Nepal’s trans-fat limit (max 0.2g/100g fat) and meet DFTQC quality standards. DFTQC can conduct laboratory tests on imported products at customs.

Q: What penalties exist for non-compliance with Nepal food labeling laws? A: Under the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081 (2024), penalties for food labeling and safety violations include on-the-spot fines issued by District Administration Offices, product seizures, immediate market recalls ordered by DFTQC, and criminal prosecution with imprisonment of up to five years for producing or selling food products that pose a serious threat to public health. These penalties apply to both domestic manufacturers and importers.

Q: What nutrition information is required for baby food and infant products in Nepal? A: Commercially produced complementary foods for infants and young children in Nepal face Nepal’s most stringent nutrition labeling requirements. Labels must include detailed nutritional content (energy, protein, fat, micronutrients), meet specified minimum nutrient standards set by DFTQC, and must not include ingredients that would exceed WHO SEAR Nutrient Profile Model thresholds for sugar, sodium, saturated fat, or non-sugar sweeteners. Health or nutrition claims must be substantiated.

Q: How do I check if my food product complies with Nepal food labeling requirements? A: The most reliable way is to consult a food labeling compliance expert like MyFoodExpert, who can review your label against Nepal’s Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081, DFTQC guidelines, Food Packaging and Labeling Regulations, and current Codex Alimentarius standards applicable in Nepal. You should also ensure your product is tested in a DFTQC-recognized laboratory for key parameters including trans-fat, nutrient content, and microbiology before entering the Nepal market.