NCC holds interaction to discuss MRP implementation challenges

KATHMANDU: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) held an interaction with private sector entrepreneurs and businesspeople on Wednesday to discuss challenges in implementing the maximum retail price (MRP) system.

The programme, held at Chamber Bhawan in Jamal, Kathmandu, was attended by more than 150 private sector representatives, NCC officials and Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari.

NCC President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal urged that MRP should be implemented only after multi-party discussions and agreement among all concerned bodies.

He said, “The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has undertaken strict market monitoring for some time, and high penalties are being imposed if MRP is not labelled.” He added that, as Nepal largely depends on imports for most consumer goods, implementing the MRP labelling system for such items would be very difficult.

Agrawal also called for the replacement of the reference value system at customs with the transaction value methodology in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) standards.

He said that, in the current sluggish business and industrial climate, excessive penalties and monitoring could further hamper the sector.

“It is the right of consumers to receive quality goods and services,” he said. “To prevent consumers from being deprived of this right and to increase awareness of every aspect of the market, publicity and awareness programmes are necessary.”

Representatives of private sector organisations complained that monitoring for MRP and labelling had imposed unnecessary difficulties and that many businesspeople remained unaware of the requirements.

Minister Bhandari responded that the MRP implementation process would advance only after immediate discussions in coordination with the concerned bodies.

The discussion was also attended by Ram Prasad Ghimire, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.