Tea Board of India

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Nepali tea exports to India have become smoother after diplomatic efforts led to the Indian Tea Board revising a directive that had previously disrupted shipments. Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri stated that coordination between the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi and the ministry was instrumental in convincing India to amend the directive.

India's Tea Board has revised its testing regulations for imported tea, effectively removing a non-tariff barrier that had halted Nepali tea exports for approximately three weeks. The updated directive, issued on May 19, 2026, exempts tea intended for India's domestic market from mandatory Tea Board testing, allowing exports to resume normally. According to Kamal Mainali, president of the Nepal Tea Association, the revised provisions have removed obstacles for Nepali tea exports to the Indian market.

A seminar on Nepal-India Economic Connectivity was held in Kathmandu, where experts discussed enhancing bilateral economic engagement and addressing challenges in sectors like energy and tourism. Meanwhile, Nepal's tea exports to India have resumed after India withdrew mandatory testing for shipments, resolving a nearly three-week disruption.