Govt bans import of roses on the eve of Valentine's Day

Published On: February 10, 2023 11:15 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 10: On the eve of Valentine's Day, the government has decided to ban the import of fresh roses from abroad. The Ministry of Agriculture issued a notice and decided to stop the import permit of rose flowers.

The Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center under the ministry issued a notice on Thursday and directed the subordinate border offices not to issue import permits. By writing to the offices of 15 customs offices of Nepal, India and China borders, the Center has banned the import of rose flowers citing special reasons.

The notice states that roses cannot be imported from Kakadbhitta in the east to Gadda Chowki in the west and any customs points in the north. "All the offices under the center are requested not to issue rose flower import permits unless there is another arrangement for special reasons," the circular said.

The Plant Quarantine and Pesticide Management Center said that due to the risk of plant diseases, the import has been stopped for the time being. The Center has asked to understand that it is on hold rather than stopped. Mahesh Chandra Acharya, information officer of the Center, said that the import was immediately stopped due to the possibility of diseases and insects in the vegetable products.

“It is seen that there is risk of disease in roses and other plants. Therefore, import is stopped for a time being as there is no proper study about such diseases,”Acharya said. “Since the meeting of the technical committee is still pending, further decisions will be taken only after the meeting.”

According to the details of the Customs Department, Nepal imported 10,612 kg of rose flowers worth Rs 1.3 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year.

JB Tamang, the program coordinator of Nepal Floriculture Association (NFA), said that the government's decision will now cause a shortage of roses in the market. According to the NFA, nearly 300,000 sticks of rose flowers are sold in Nepal around Valentine's Day. He said that only about 20,000 pieces of rose flowers are produced in Nepal.