KATHMANDU, May 31: The Nepal Sanitary Pad Manufacturers Association (NSPMA) has protested against the government's decision to give a 90 percent custom tax waiver on the import of sanitary pads.

Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Tuesday, the NSPMA warned that the government's decision would lead to the collapse of Nepal's sanitary pad industries as the local manufacturers would be unable to compete with the imported products.

The government in the annual budget for the fiscal year 2022/23 had announced a 90% waiver on custom tax concession on the import of sanitary pads. Currently, the government imposes 15 percent custom duty on all imports of sanitary pads which will come down to 1.5 percent after the start of the new fiscal year. 

The government in the annual budget has also announced that only 1% tax will be levied on the import of raw materials that are needed to manufacture pads to help domestic producers. 

However, the NSPMA has objected to the announcement of 1% reduction in customs duty on raw materials as there has not been any reduction in 54 raw and packaging materials needed for manufacturing pads.

Speaking at the program, NSPMA President Dolraj Adhikari said the new budget has done injustice to the local sanitary pad industrialists. "We will pay taxes to the government. All we want from the government is a suitable working environment," he said.

There are 35 to 40 small and large scale sanitary pad industries operating in Nepal. Over 900 million units of sanitary pads are being produced with an investment of Rs 6 billion. It is estimated that some 6,000 people are getting employment opportunities in these industries.

Adhikari complained that the government’s decision  gives unjust benefits to foreign manufacturers. “The government's decision to import pads with just 1.5 percent custom tax has pushed domestic industries on the verge of closure. There is a risk of losing 6,000 jobs," he said.

 
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